A goal on six minutes was enough to send Carlisle United to another narrow defeat on the road last night.
Stephen McLaughlin headed Mansfield Town to a fourth successive home win and left Carlisle again frustrated by their inabilities in finding the net.
It’s not too long ago that the Stags were floundering with Carlisle near the relegation trap-door but they have now moved into the top half of the table.
The fact it can be done will be a reminder to United boss Keith Millen that there can be a way out of the mire – although he might need a good January window to provide the materials he needs to pull clear.
At Fild Mill, however, he had watched a contrasting performance from his side – indifferent and vulnerable, to buoyant and dangerous, yet without the end product they so badly needed.
In his after-match press conference he said: “We couldn’t get to grips with them and it was a tough blow when they scored after six minutes. We were all over the place in our heads and when we won the ball it was like a hot potato.
“Mansfield are good in possession but they do leave themselves quite open when we won the ball. When we got to grips and calmed down we created a few opportunities.
“We were then excellent in the second half and on the front foot.
“There were so many incidents, how we’ve not scored is beyond belief.
“It’s frustrating. When you’re playing well and working hard and not getting the results it’s tough to take.
“But that’s the situation we are in and we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to remember we’re doing a lot of good things, but something has to change and I don’t know what it is.”
The only goal on six minutes followed a run from right back Elliott Hewitt and a controlled cross to the far post found left-back McLaughlin waiting unmarked to head home.
Most of Carlisle’s best efforts came in the second half. Young substitute Sam Fishburn saw one close-ranger effort cleared off the line and on a second occasion was just a split second too late in taking his chance and was closed down by two defenders.
The best effort came in the dying moments when Jordan Gibson hit a screamer from distance which came back off the crossbar.
