I think we are witnessing the end, it will take a bigger miracle than Jimmys to pull us out of this. Even in the Paddock there is very little anger left, resignation has set in. I don't blame Atkins, or want him to go, we won't get anyone else with any management credentails thats for sure.
Players.
Weaver
Poor, came for balls when he should have stayed on his line, stayed on his line when he
should have collected, stood like a botle of milk for the second goal.
Birch
Lacks skill but worked hard
Whitehead
Reasonably sound, came forward a couple of times, wish he was able to more often.
Inglis
Despite having to take most of the blame for the second goal and some of the blame for the
first he seems a reasonable player, one of the very few that can head a ball.
Winstanley
Mr reliable as usual, at least one goalmouth header saved us further emabarassment, and
some good long accurate balls.
Maddison
Looks like a slightly heavier version of Whitehead. Had some good runs forward, not fast but
strong with a good pass at the end of it. Spoiled performance by needlessly getting booked for
throwing the ball away.
Soley *
Not in the game at all, made two very rash tackles, the first he was lucky he didn't connect
with, the second ended with him injurred and taken to hospital.
Darby *
Poor, his tackles didn't come off his passing was off the mark.
Dobie
Marked out of the game for a lot of the match, a few good runs but other teams know the
danger and don't give him much space.
Stevens
Had to go hunting the ball, not his strong suit, he is so easily knocked off the ball.
Heggs *
I have written a deleted my opinion of Heggs' play today three times. I don't like being so down
on a player, suffice to say his ariel abilty was nil and his feet weren't even able to keep him
upright most of the time never mind control a ball. His hand ball in the first few seconds gave
away the free kick that tead to the first goal.
Subs used.
Prokas
Seems scared stiff to do anything, crowd soon started booing him for passing back, in reality
there were few forward options.
Tracey
A better game for him. His pace got him behind the defenders, had a couple of weak shots that
were at least on target
Lee
A class above the rest was soon putting good balls into the box, unfortunately no one seemed
able to collect them.
Bumble
NOT GOOD ENOUGH BLASTS ATKINS
The distant tinkle of alarm bells has risen in a few short weeks to a crescendo to deafen even the hardest of hearing amongst the Cumbrian faithful.
This seventh successive defeat leaves Carlisle looking at their worst run since the mid eighties and the spectre of non league football looming large again.
Former chairman Michael Knighton is looking to sell the club but his valuation is frightening prospective buyers away. The situation leaves Ian Atkins with the impossible task of moulding a squad of monthly contract players into a viable third division outfit. His frustration came pouring out after the game. He said: "As a manger you try to organise and discipline the players as much as you can, but the you have got to look at the desire of certain players, and that has got to come from within. It's now plainly obvious that we are not good enough. It's not an easy situation but we are going to get sucked into another relegation battle and we've been lucky in the last two years to get away with it. We won't get away with it a third time. Some of the players are not capable of giving me a little bit more and that means I need to replace very quickly. The Board knows what I want but I knew the situation when I came here so there is no point in moaning, I've just got to get on with it."
The home side faced an uphill battle from the first minute when Bees debutante Stuart Niven took advantage of a weak Carlisle clearance to half volley passed Luke Weaver.
As in recent matches the Cumbrians saw plenty of the play, getting plenty of balls into the box but failed to show that vital killer instinct to turn chances into goals.
This was typified by Scott Dobie and John Ingles both heading straight at Bees keeper Dan Naisbitt when in good positions in the 16th and 35th minutes.
On 39 minutes the Bees almost extended their lead when a Tony Richards header, from a Darren Currie cross, went narrowly wide.
On the stroke of half time Carl Heggs should have equalised but blasted his shot over the bar.
Four minutes into the second half Ian Stevens shot went narrowly wide closely followed by Richard Tracey blasting over a Dobie cross.
The Cumbrians were made to pay for these missed chances when Richards 54th minute cross was missed by Ingles allowing Scott McGleish a free header passed Weaver.
Mike Corry
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