Carlisle United Football Club

"We're all very disappointed about the result," he said. "We played well in the first half and there was an urgency and a real desire to get the ball into the final third. 

"We had a number of chances and a couple of deflected shots which went straight at the keeper. On another day they might have gone in." 

"I think they had three chances in the first half and they scored two goals from them," he added. "We know we need to improve that side of our game. Even though we went into half time trailing we knew if we came out and took the game to them we'd be in with a chance. 

"The first goal of the second half was always going to be important and unfortunately they got it. We were always on the back foot after that and it is something we need to address as a team. We can't keep leaking goals so easily and we'll be working hard in training to try and put it right." 

"Colchester at home isn't a game we should be losing but no game is a given in this league," he said. "We know we have to work hard in every game to get something out of it but I thought the work rate was there today. 

"We had chances at their end which didn't fall for us but it seemed to be the complete opposite at our end. I don't think they got into double figures in terms of shots but they still managed to score four goals."

"It's difficult to put our finger on where we're going wrong," he admitted. "There's no shortage of confidence in the dressing room. The defeats do affect us but as soon as it's gone you focus on the next game. 

"This week will be tough but there's a lot of spirit down there. We'll all club together and start putting things right very quickly because the longer it goes on the tougher it will get. 

"I've been in a situation like this before and it is hard to get out of it. However, one result can change all of that. If we can get a scrappy 1-0 then that will hopefully spark off another run.

"The lads are a bright bunch and we've got a good mixture of youth and experience in there. Sometimes the young lads can let the defeats get to them too much but they're all still learning. They do have to learn quickly and the experienced lads are good at putting an arm around their shoulder when they need it."

"We'll all come in on Monday morning with a smile on our faces," he insisted. "We can't let anyone feel down because we know we need to work hard this week to put things right. We've got a bit of time before the next game which means we've got a good period of time on the training pitch. 

"MK Dons will be a tough game, and we know how well they can play, but we've got to worry about us. If we get a performance like we did down there then we'll get a positive result and hopefully we'll be able to build on that." 

"All we can do is keep trying to perform, especially for our fans," he said. "You could feel the urgency from the crowd today and the excitement when we were going forward. We need them to stick with us, because it is going to be tough, but we'll look to come out of the other side as quickly as possible." 

"Our home form has been good, apart from the Preston game, and I actually looked in the programme before the game and I think that was our only defeat in five," he commented. "We've played some good teams here recently and we haven't just beat them - we've beaten them well. 

"We were all confident of carrying that on against Colchester but unfortunately we were on the end of a 4-2 defeat. We all need to step up very quickly and start dragging ourselves away from the bottom six or seven teams. 

"We need to approach the next ten days with the same intensity and desire to work hard. We won't be looking at when we get days off and things like that. We'll work hard every day and focus on getting a result on Tuesday." 

"It's hard to explain why we can do so well against Sunderland and Peterborough and not so well against other teams," he said. "We're doing everything right in the build up to the games but I think we can let the disappointment of conceding one goal affect us, which then means we go on and concede another. Conceding quickfire goals makes things very difficult. 

"If you look at the bunch of players we've got it's a good blend. We have some exciting young players and some good experience in there. With the group we've got I don't think we should be in the position we're in but we are at the moment. 

"The group is good enough to get out of this. It wasn't too long ago that we were looking at the top ten. Once we get a couple of wins the confidence will start showing again. We just need that one bit of inspiration to get the whole club buzzing again."

And on being handed the captain's armband, he said: "I was proud to walk the team out. It's something I've looked to do as my career went on but I didn't think we'd be on the end of that scoreline. I've learned from some good captains but I'm not the type to get in your face and shout or anything like that. I'll try and encourage the lads in the same way as I always do."