REACTION: Paul Simpson gives his verdict on Carlisle United's defeat to Newport County

The Blues’ late fightback was to no avail as they went down 2-1 in their first setback since Simpson’s return.

United's manager said it was important the loss does not derail the recent positive work at Brunton Park.

But he said it was clear that Carlisle had not imposed themselves on the game early enough against James Rowberry’s promotion-chasers.

“I’m disappointed that we have to go two goals down to get that reaction,” Simpson said.

“The second goal was a real body blow to us because I thought in the second half we tried to get the players to be a bit more forward thinking.

“It had been too much backwards and sideways and waiting for things to happen, instead of getting on with it and making things happen.

“Maybe this was just one game too many in this little run we had, but we go again. We have to try to take the finish of the game into the start at Barrow at the weekend.”

Simpson made four changes, two of which were enforced, and saw the Blues go behind in the 15th minute to Micky Demetriou’s header.

Finn Azaz doubled the Exiles’ lead midway through the second half before Omari Patrick’s sixth goal in nine games gave United late hope.

Goalscorer Omari Patrick on the attack against Newport (photo: Barbara Abbott)

They couldn’t force a draw – but remain nine points above the League Two relegation zone.

Speaking further about how his side started the game, Simpson added: “I didn’t think we went about it in the right way. I thought we were a little bit too negative.

“It’s as if we were waiting for something to go against us to give us a little bit of a jolt. When you play against a good side they are going to do something against you.

“They hit us with the corner, and the second goal was just horrible to concede. We were actually in a bit of an ascendency at that point, we were looking really positive.

“We have to accept we are going to make mistakes, it happens even at the top level. On our first day on the grass when I came in I explained to players that we are all going to make mistakes. What I want to see after it is a positive reaction.

“I don’t want them to show the whole crowd and whole world that it was a mistake – just get back, recover and get on with it so you try and stop the threat.

“If we’d done that we would possibly have had a challenge to stop the cross or the strike from around about the penalty spot.

“We’re learning, I’m learning about the players, they’re learning the game as they go along, and we have to accept that errors will occur. Just let’s get the reaction right after it.”

Simpson said he urged his players to “release the shackles” in the second half, and threw more players forward in a bid to threaten Newport.

He added: “I thought there were a lot of positives in the way we finished the game. I felt as though we were on the edge of getting something else and maybe nicking it.

“When six minutes [of added time] went up they were moaning because they knew we were on the front foot. But unfortunately we didn’t get that little thing dropping for us and we have to go again.

“What we have to make sure is that we don’t let this derail us. We need to remember what we’ve been doing over the past few weeks, and what we did in the latter stages of this game, because I thought we finished really strong.”

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