Interim Carlisle boss Steven Rudd labelled his side’s 3-2 home defeat by Fleetwood as “unacceptable”.
The stand-in coach was left deeply frustrated at the manner of the goals and stressed the squad need to get the “basics” right in order to turn around their sorry start to the season, which accounted for Paul Simpson’s departure from the club.
Danny Mayor bagged a brace, while Ronan Coughlan grabbed the other goal in a five-goal thriller at Brunton Park as Charlie Wyke’s double was in vain.
“It’s very frustrating,” bemoaned Rudd. “That’s the word to use. We can’t start the game like that and give any team a 2-0 headstart, it’s unacceptable.
“In fairness to us, the lads have manage to get ourselves back into the game.
“But to concede the third one the way we did is not good enough. To concede three goals at home at any level of football is not acceptable.
“The basics weren’t being done well enough. The first goal we can’t defend like that and having a player dance past three lads in the box. The second one we give it away under no pressure.
“We were miles off it at the start of the game and it’s a big learning curve for us.
“We managed to get together after that 25-minute spell. But we have to be better at what we’re doing individually.
“The third goal we don’t stop the cross, the first contact is us, but doesn’t leave the 18-yard box. There’s a lad stood inside the box with a 10-yard finish, same as the Andy Cook one last week where we give a free header away.
“We need to mark players when the ball’s in wide areas. Some of our players have a habit of defending space, but that leaves opponents open in front of goal. They’re the basics we’re talking about.”
For Fleetwood it was a welcome first away win of the season as they ended a frustrating wait for a second victory of the campaign with their only other one coming on the opening day.
Boss Charlie Adam said: “I thought character, resilience to come back from the disappointment from the goals we conceded was excellent.
“It builds character within the group, within the club and I thought the subs made a huge difference for us.
“I thought we were very good early on and we came off it a little bit when they got some ascendency.
“You have to understand that you cannot dominate games for 90 minutes at this level, as much as we’d want to.
“You’re going to have spells where the opposition get on top. We had large periods with the ball, but when they bring pressure to us we need to understand when to play the game well.
“We’ve got to realise different periods of the game and not panic.
“We showed great character in bouncing back. If you wanted somebody to finish the game off it was Danny Mayor, he was fantastic today.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
