It was back to the bad old days for Carlisle United as they slumped to a poor 2-0 home defeat by Sutton United.
The Blues had been abysmal in their defeat early in the season at Sutton and this wasn’t much better – miles away from the recent home performance which saw off Bradford City.
It was a poor day for football, too, with a strong wind interfering with the quality on offer, although clearly Sutton adapted better than the home side.
The visitors had threatened most in the opening quarter and the only time that Carlisle hopes were raised was when a Callum Guy corner flashed invitingly across goal with just a touch needed.
Par for the course, on Sutton’s next attack they scored on 23 minutes.
Although a cross had been headed away by Dynel Simeu it was seized on by Isaac Olaofe who fired a low shot through a ruck of players into the bottom corner.
Carlisle could have been level in an instant. Amori Patrick produced a good cross and Jack Armer, who was steaming in beyond the far post, saw his header rebound off the upright.
Sutton made it 2-0 after 30 minutes when the Carlisle defence was split by a fine ball from Richie Bennett and on the end of it was David Ajiboye who held off a late challenge to find the net.
Mark Howard then had to produce a couple of excellent stops to keep Sutton within sight. He pawed away a dangerous free-kick from Robert Milsom and then somehow blocked a sweetly struck shot from Enzio Boldewijn after seeing it late.
In a frantic finish to the first-half Carlisle had unanswered appeals for a penalty when the overlapping Joel Senior went down in the box while at the other end Howard made a great block with his legs to keep out a rocket from Bennett.
The only rocket for Carlisle was presumably from manager Keith Millen as they did show a bit more gusto and desire at the start of the second-half.
Carlisle went closest on 63 minutes from a ten yard header by Jon Mellish which beat keeper Dean Bouzanis but was cleared off the line by Ben Goodliffe.
Substitute Jordan Gibson got plenty behind a shot from 20 yards but
Howard had one more decent save to make to deny Boldewijn and generally Carlisle rarely offered a serious threat to his opposite number Bouzanis as Sutton emerged easier winners than 2-0 might suggest.
