Carlisle United manager Keith Millen has admitted his side has gone back a long way in the last three weeks.
Millen was reacting to the 2-1 defeat at Salford which has left United anxiously positioned just above the League Two strugglers Oldham and Scunthorpe.
He blamed unforced errors and a lack of good decision making for the latest set-back.
Millen is also ready to make changes, having brought five new players in on transfer deadline today – although three first-half injuries at Salford haven’t helped his cause.
He told the club website: “The difference at the moment, to when we were on a good run, is that we’re making bad mistakes, bad decisions, and giving goals away cheaply.
“We’re making bad mistakes and decisions at the moment, that’s what’s costing us. Not just defending, but in an attacking sense, some of the players all of a sudden look like they’re almost scared to make a decision.
“It’s a good job we’ve got some new players in, it’s time now, we’ve got to freshen it up, without a doubt. The lads, I can’t fault their work rate and effort, they’re trying, our shape was ok, but the quality and decision making at the moment is a worry.
“We’ve gone back a long way from where we were three weeks ago, which I find amazing. It is a surprise to me, but that’s the group, that’s what we’ve got, and we need to give them a lift.
“We’ve got some new faces that aren’t scarred by the season we’ve had so far and hopefully they will help to freshen us up.
“To be fair, I can’t think of a game where we’ve been really opened up. Our shape, discipline, all the basics are still there, but we’re making such bad decisions.
“Whether it’s a lack of confidence, a little bit of tiredness, the players need to look at themselves and try and come up in with an answer.
“Having to make three subs due to injuries in the first half, that doesn’t help. I can’t remember the last time I had to make three injury subs, let alone before the break.
“We have to be honest and say they started well. They had us penned back for 10 minutes, we rode our luck a little bit, put bodies on the line, but we got through that bit of pressure.
“I thought ok, it calmed down, the game, a little bit, then you pick up the injuries. We settled again and there wasn’t much in the game. They looked dangerous from crosses into Smith, but apart from that I didn’t think there was much between the teams.
“The one time we did get two or three passes off, we scored a good goal. Then you’re back in the game, 1-1, but we make another bad decision and get punished again.
“It’s time for me to maybe change things now, that’s three defeats, we’ve got to stop the rot definitely. Luckily I’ve got new players coming in that will refresh and be looking to impress, and that’s what I’m going to have to do now.
“With three injures that changes the starters anyway. But I was pleased with Dynel, I thought it was a tough game for him on Saturday, against Sutton, his first game, but I thought today you could see more signs of what he will give us.
“He battled well, the back four did, to be fair, but this run is a reality check and it tells me that I need to change things.
“We’re in a rut but they’ve been in it before, on a lot worse run than this. We’ve picked ourselves up and we will do it again.
“I definitely need to make some decisions and try and help the group, and freshening it up will help us without a doubt. That’s what we’ll be doing.”
