Carlisle United boss reacts to Derby County defeat

The Blues finished their League One campaign with a 2-0 defeat at promoted Derby County.

It saw United round off a hugely disappointing third-tier effort with their 30th defeat from 46 games.

Simpson felt his side performed creditably for much of the game at Pride Park but accepted their efforts counted for little - and what happens now is much more important.

“Once that relegation's sealed you just want to get it [the season] put to bed,” the manager said.

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“It’s been a hugely disappointing season for everybody, everybody involved in the club, and the rebuild has to start now.”

Carlisle had no reply to Derby’s goals from Max Bird and James Collins in either half as the Rams clinched second place and a return to the Championship.

There were huge scenes of celebration as a pitch invasion marked full-time.

United enjoyed similar feelings in their promotion campaign from League Two last term but the contrast in emotions this time around is stark.

“It's a rollercoaster, isn't it, football?” said Simpson.

“We've been on a downward rollercoaster for this past 11 months, I've just been told. It's been a tough, tough one.

“But we have to aspire to get back to having these sort of occasions, and that's the only thing on my mind – to do all we can to get a group of players together who can go and try and repeat what we did last year.”

United will announce their retained and released list on Monday after Simpson holds meetings with players in the morning.

Some nine professionals are out of contract while United’s manager has hinted that he may also look to move on some of those who are still under contract.

On their efforts at Pride Park, Simpson said Carlisle’s “level of performance was okay” in spite of Derby’s march to promotion.

“We did [play] without really working the goalkeeper,” he said.

United saw penalty appeals turned down at Derby when Alfie McCalmont had shots blocked (Image: Richard Parkes)

“It's one of those things where you've got to come in and you've got to be prepared to go and stand up and be counted, and I think the players did that without actually doing enough in those forward areas.”

Simpson felt Carlisle could have had a penalty in the first half, when Alfie McCalmont saw shots blocked amid handball shouts.

“I haven't seen them – I've just seen a message on the phone to say that there were two, and we thought there were three that were dubious,” he added.

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“It would be wrong for me to say whether I thought there were penalty shouts, but I do think that we had the first tackle from Harrison Neal and we picked up a yellow card and it wasn't the same…[for them].

“So we weren't going to get a penalty today, unfortunately. But that's life, we've just got to move on.

“We may be clutching at straws to think that was the case, but I've seen them given. But not today.”

Simpson admitted he was frustrated not to be able to go over to United’s 1,700+ travelling support to express his thanks.

Carlisle were unable to show their appreciation to their travelling fans because of a huge Derby pitch invasion (Image: PA)

The mass pitch invasion by Derby fans put paid to that hope.

Simpson said he did not blame the home club for the end-of-game scenes but wanted to put on record his thanks to Carlisle’s loyal supporters.

“They were magnificent, absolutely,” he said.

“I feel for them that we weren't able to go over and thank them to show our appreciation, but I hope they come back, and I hope we can properly show our appreciation next season.”