Carlisle United stay bottom of League One after a 2-0 defeat at Wigan brought the curtain down on 2023.
The Blues must hope that the new owners’ cash and manager Paul Simpson’s good work in the January transfer window can revive their fortunes.
A disappointing first-half performance cost the Cumbrians as they were generally outplayed throughout the opening 45 minutes when Wigan scored both goals.
Carlisle showed a livelier approach after the resumption, with Wigan often seemingly content to soak up the ptessure but despite creating a couple of decent opportunities United couldn’t take them.
There was an early warning sign when Wigan hit a post in their first serious attack from a corner, although Carlisle did have a shout for a penalty on seven minutes when Josh Emmanuel went down in the box but referee Darren Drysdale saw nothing wrong.
However it was a definite penalty at the other end with Emmanuel hacking down Stephen Humphrys on 16 minutes and Josh Magennis finished confidently from the spot to give Wigan the lead.
The second Wigan goal came on 37 minutes when Liam Morrison scored after a corner had been headed onto him.
Overall it had been a particularly depressing first half for the 4,128 travelling Carlisle fans in the crowd of 13,224.
There was certainly a more livelier approach from Carlisle in the second half and they almost pulled one back on 54 minutes when Jack Armer swept a Jack Robinson free-kick just wide.
Their second decent chance came after 69 minutes when substitute Joe Farner got on the end of a Robinson free kick but directed his header just wide.
A third opportunity fell to Ben Barclay after a good run into the area from an Owen Moxon set-piece but he shot straight at home keeper Sam Tickle.
Exeter’s 0-0 home draw with leaders Portsmouth means that Carlisle are currently six points from safety.
They are back at Brunton Park on New Year’s Day against Port Vale who were impressive 3-0 winners against Blackpool last night.
