Under-fire Mike Williamson says he will shoulder all the criticism for Carlisle United’s struggles.

The Blues head coach came in for increased flak after the 1-0 home defeat to Cheltenham Town which deepened their problems in League Two.

An increasing number of fans are calling for Williamson to go after just nine games in charge.

Saturday’s defeat saw United four points adrift in the relegation zone after taking just two points from their last seven league games.

Williamson, on the criticism and calls for his head from some, said: “People are going to have their opinions. They're entitled to their opinions. That's absolutely fine.

“It starts and stops with me. I take the responsibility.

“I see those lads [the players] in there and I want to take every bit of criticism. I'd love to take all the noise and the cynicism and the pessimism away from them and give them the freedom to play football because it is hard, it's hostile.

“But I know it will not take away my belief in the lads, in this football club, in the project, in how we work.

“We will find that fluency and we will build consistency. Then when it does turn, the fans will get on board because the only thing that's going to get them to buy in and believe after a really difficult 18 months is success on the pitch.”

Carlisle went behind against Michael Flynn’s side after Harry Lewis failed to prevent his save from Ethon Archer’s shot from spinning into the net.

United conceded in the 17th minuteUnited conceded in the 17th minute (Image: Ben Holmes)

United then failed to find a way back, Cheltenham missing more good chances before half-time and Carlisle then unable to level after the break, Harrison Biggins failed to take their best opportunity.

It was a tenth defeat from 14 league games this season for the second-bottom Blues and there are calls for the club’s owners, the Piataks, to make another change less than two months after appointing Williamson as head coach.

There also appeared to be some angry exchanges between fans and certain players, and coaches, after the game, while some fans remained in the Paddock to aim flak at Williamson.

Asked for his view on the latest defeat, Williamson said: “The assessment was that in the first half they stepped on. We thought that's what they were going to do, so we wanted to go over.

“We picked up, in the first 15 minutes, some good positions and some second balls. We obviously didn't capitalise, we didn't convert those moments.

“We got pegged back and that made it hard, which is going to happen. They're on a dogfight, they're fighting for their lives, and we're getting punished severely at the moment.

“The nature of the goal, even the spin and how it's gone in…it's a tough one.”

Carlisle’s display after going behind was particularly poor and they then suffered the loss of half-time substitute Charlie Wyke to a serious-looking injury on the hour mark.

“The first ten minutes [after the goal], we struggled to get out of our half in terms of being able to get a foothold.

“But then after that, as we did three or four times, we picked up good positions. We wanted to enter the box as much as we can, so there was probably less patience in there, and moving the ball side to side and just a desire to increase our chances of scoring a goal.

“We did have some good moments. When we don't capitalise, it takes the wind out of your sails. Playing against some good individuals, we lost a few first and second contacts and we made it too easy for them. We allowed them to play through from their keeper and enter our 18-yard box too comfortably. Obviously, we assessed that at half-time.

An increasing number of fans are calling on the Piataks to act again An increasing number of fans are calling on the Piataks to act again (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I think the overall feeling of emotion is summed up by what's happened to our captain [Wyke]. It's very, very tough, but the spirit and the reaction of the boys shows you what they're about in a difficult environment, which is understandable.

“Playing on the back foot, they managed to find a way to create some chances but ultimately not convert. You could see togetherness and a fight and a determination. At the minute we just haven't got the quality and we're coming up short.”

Williamson, asked what would turn Carlisle’s continued bleak fortunes and when, said: “You’re asking questions where I can't give you a definitive answer.

“We're working hard every single day and at the minute the boys are giving everything. I think you can see the emotion and what the guys left out there in really, really difficult circumstances.

“They're continuing to really buy in, be on the front foot, drive it from within. The output is not matched by the effort, but it will be.

“You're asking questions for an answer that a crystal ball can have, but all we do know is the character and the work rate that we're putting in. Everything that we can control, we are.”