Can it get any worse?

Photo: Pictures: ALAN HOWARTH

Matt Smith is denied a chance by ’keeper Mark Gillespie.

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Athletic 1, Carlisle 2

First-half horror show costly for Latics
EVEN by the pitifully low standards of the season, Athletic’s first-half display in this 11th home defeat of the season was almost mesmerising in its wretchedness.

Manager Lee Johnson – who suffered the first defeat of his reign thanks to two superbly-taken first-half strikes from Carlisle – was so outraged by what he witnessed he made a triple substitution at the interval.

With Kirk Millar buzzing with menace, Matt Smith offering a physical threat and David Mellor shielding the back-four, a revival duly arrived.

After Liam Noble and Jordan Mustoe had seemingly put the game to bed just after the opening half-hour, Jose Baxter slammed home a penalty kick with 17 minutes to go and offered some hope.

Matt Smith and Bobby Reid were both denied by excellent saves from Blues ’keeper Mark Gillespie late on and the game could easily have ended all-square.

And there wouldn’t have been too many complaints if it had, given Athletic's dominance for half of this contest.

But ultimately this misfiring team left themselves too much to do once again.

Because in that opening period, Athletic weren’t just bad. They were pitiful.

The catcalls which greeted the half-time whistle were utterly justified. Simple passes went astray; decision making collapsed, movement off the ball was non-existent.

Carlisle are a blunt, solid mid-table side. In the first half, Athletic made the functional Cumbrians look like world-beaters.

At the other end, Athletic’s first attack of note came in the 43rd minute. Baxter’s one-two with Lee Barnard ended with the former hitting a shot which Gillespie tipped around the post.

From the resulting corner, referee Michael Naylor turned down appeals for a penalty for what seemed a blatant handball in the six-yard box.

Rockets issued and the bold changes made, Athletic were a different proposition after half-time.

But for all the enterprise and promise of the second half, Athletic now find the stench of the relegation pit rapidly filling their nostrils.

This relegation issue looks like going right down to the wire.