Carlisle United manager reacts to defeat by Reading

The Royals’ dominance at Brunton Park pushed United closer to relegation with the gap to safety now 15 points with 11 games to go.

The drop looks certain after the fifth straight home defeat in which Ruben Selles’ visitors were far superior to Simpson’s strugglers.

Simpson admitted his side could have done more to prevent Reading’s goals but also said the Berkshire outfit’s quality had to be respected in how they made impressive use of the top quality surface at Carlisle's ground.

"Teams like that love coming to play on it, said Simpson in a club interview.

"We’ve got a fantastic playing surface, maybe we need to make it worse...

"Especially at this level, our playing surface is too good and we’ve not been able to use it as well - you look at teams like Wigan and their pace early in the season, Peterborough with what they did, Portsmouth...the way they can play with their pace, [and Reading] have really enjoyed coming here. 

“Their staff have just said to me, they came up, looked at the pitch and thought 'wow, this is a place for us to play' and that certainly has been the case.

“Credit to Dave [Mitchell] the groundsman for getting a fantastic pitch because other teams are enjoying playing on it.”

United seldom looked like living with Reading as they cruised into a three-goal lead before a belated fightback.

“That level of player is what we've got to aspire to as a football club,” added Simpson to the News & Star

“Whether we can ever get to that I don't really know, because they've had Premier League football and long periods in the Championship. And they're only where they are because of the financial difficulties that they've had.

• Jon Colman's big match verdict on Carlisle's defeat to Reading

“But there was a huge gulf. And I hold my hands up, and I absolutely accept that their group is at a different level to where we are.

“For long periods of the game, I thought we stuck at it, and we tried to make changes to see if we could affect it. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough.”

Reading were too good for the Cumbrians (Image: Barbara Abbott)

United fell behind to a Sam Smith goal before Harvey Knibbs doubled Reading’s lead following Andy Yiadom’s elusive run before half-time. Knibbs made it 3-0 after the break with Jon Mellish heading Carlisle’s consolation.

It was a ninth defeat in ten in front of a 7,891 crowd at Brunton Park.

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Reflecting on the goals, Simpson said: “It was a clever bit of football from [Smith]. He's taken the defender in in deep and then spun in behind and we weren't able to deal with it.

“But it's also the quality of the ball to get them in there as well. And then the finish. You have to say there's good football involved in it.

“The second goal, I think we've got to defend it better out on the left hand side, we can't let somebody dance around like that and get in. So that was disappointing the way that happened.

“And the third one, I think you've got to pick up on the way out of defending a set play, you can't just run out aimlessly – you have to run out and pick up or stay with your man as you're on your way out. We didn't do that, and the lad [Knibbs] gets a good finish.”

Some Blues fans left after Reading’s third goal in the 57th minute.

“It is tough for our supporters, it’s tough for everybody involved with the football club,” said Simpson of Carlisle’s struggles.

“The one thing I will say is that the majority of the supporters stayed with it. And they saw the players trying to have a go at the end, and for long periods I thought they did try to.

“I thought we started the game well. I thought we had that life about us. But the first goal goes in and knocks the stuffing out of you.

Jack Diamond attacks to no avail for Carlisle (Image: Barbara Abbott)

“The players stuck at it. They kept going, showed a desire to do that, which, being honest, didn't happen at home against Cambridge [in the 4-0 defeat two weeks earlier].

“So that's a positive that we can take, that they kept going. Unfortunately, we were beaten by the better side today.”

• Carlisle United v Reading - as it happened

Simpson was the target of chants by many Reading fans, following his pre-match comments when he said “repeat offenders” such as the Royals should face stronger punishment.

Reading have been docked six points this season under the ownership of Dai Yongge, whose tenure has been the subject of regular fan protests, amid failure to meet HMRC payments and issues over paying wages.

“Reading historically, over the last 15-20 years, have been a fantastic football club that produces good football teams,” said Simpson.

“They've obviously got problems because of the ownership, which is no fault of fans, players and staff – they're the ones who suffer.

“But I still think they're a real good side. For me, one of the best sides we’ve faced this season at Brunton Park, and I think it showed for long periods.”