Drop in standards led to defeat

The Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

AT CARLISLE we were poor from start to finish. We let ourselves down.

After taking 10 points from four matches, perhaps subconsciously we felt we only had to turn up to win.

The experienced players in the team should know a lot better than that. It is never the case in League One that you can afford to let standards drop.

Watching the first half from the subs bench, I said to the other lads the game looked like it was heading for a scoreless draw, or maybe 1-0 to either side, with a goal from a mistake.

Their first goal was from an error - and it served to spur them on while we capitulated.

Cliff Byrne held his hand up for the mistake. He is a great character and didn't shirk his responsibility – the pass was on, but Liam Noble read Cliff's intentions well and delivered a great cross to the far post for Joe Garner to head in.

Garner got another from a cross; then their third goal from Matty Robson came as we had gone to three at the back, pushing forward to try to get the goal (which nearly arrived when Jose Baxter hit the post).

Overall, though, it was a night to learn from.

Our good run had been characterised by a solid defence and we didn't do the pressing without the ball that had brought us success.

It is incredibly disappointing — particularly because it was a good chance for us to push on up the table. Now we have dropped down and have to start again.