This top versus bottom clash did not go exactly according to plan for high-flying Hull City, as they only just managed to overcome a spirited second-half fightback by Carlisle, who had only amassed five points before this match.
The Cumbrians were largely anonymous in the first half, although they did force the first corner of the match in the seventh minute. But, like most of their set-pieces, it simply ended up in the arms of Paul Musselwhite.
In the 14th minute former Carlisle player Stuart Green's corner was headed home by Ben Burgess, his 15-yard effort looping over ex-Tiger Matt Glennon.
Minutes later Glennon did well to get his hands to a shot from Danny Allsopp.
After 16 minutes Allsopp outran his marker and placed a low 20-yard shot that beat Glennon and rebounded off the near post.
After 25 minutes Allsopp headed over from another good Green corner before Burgess headed wide from a centre by Jason Price.
It was just after the half-hour mark when Peter Murphy registered Carlisle's first shot, a weak effort that went wide of the right-hand post.
After 38 minutes Burgess missed another good chance, before Chris Billy had a shot deflected for a corner in a period of late pressure from Carlisle.
A minute after the restart Allsopp shot wide, and minutes later at the other end Des Byrne shot over as Carlisle made a much brighter start to the second half.
And they stunned the home crowd when good work by Murphy saw the ball fall to Will McDonagh who hit an excellent 20-yard shot into the back of the net.
But two minutes later Lee Andrews was sent off for a professional foul on Burgess who was through on goal.
Green hit the bar and Burgess missed another chance before Hull's blushes were saved when Jamie Forrester reacted quickly to pounce on the goal line on 75 minutes.