Assistant Head Coach Louis Storey felt Carlisle United deserved more from the 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers.
Storey, who took charge from the touchline with Head Coach Rob Elliot serving a touchline suspension, felt the Blues started strongly before losing some control following Forest Green’s opener.
He said: "I think it was a strange one. It was a game of two halves and two different performances from us.
"We actually started really well. We had some great opportunities, some good forward entries and potentially a penalty shout on Jenks. Then we conceded from a set-piece, which we know isn’t good enough and is an area that has let us down.
"From that point until probably half-time, it shook us a little bit. We lost some control, and the game became really expansive."
Forest Green posed a threat on the counter, but Storey was pleased with the response from United after the break.
"Forest Green have players at the top end of the pitch who can play quick combinations and attack with speed, so when the game becomes expansive it plays into their hands. But second half, you have to give the boys credit. We got back on top, regained our momentum and gradually ground them down.
"In the last 10 or 15 minutes, there only looked like there was going to be one team that would go on and win the game.
"On the back of the performance on Saturday, we wanted to be a little bit more clinical and show that evolution. Forest Green are a strong team, but we still feel like we should have come away with three points."
Storey also addressed United’s defending from set-pieces after the Blues were again punished from a dead-ball situation.
"Ultimately, we’ve just got to defend set-pieces better; that’s everything from our contact and marking, winning more aerial duels and making bigger and clearer clearances from the first and second phases.
"When you’ve conceded a few from set-pieces, naturally there can be a little bit of pressure in those situations, but you have to put that to one side.
"You have to concentrate on defending the next action and the next ball."
The Assistant Head Coach believes it is an area United can improve through work on the training ground.
"The positive side is that it’s something we can prepare for. We analyse the opposition, we can see the trends, we can work on our contact, winning more aerial duels and continually assess our set-up.
"It’s another piece of the puzzle, just like our goal conversion at the other end of the pitch.
"When we get those things right, it’ll make us stronger and help turn these performances into the results we want."
Despite the frustration of dropping two points, Storey was encouraged by the character shown to respond and force Forest Green onto the back foot late in the contest.
"The boys know that the first half wasn’t at the level we expect and that we gave away too many opportunities, whether that was through transitions or giving the ball away in key moments.
"But you have to give them credit for fighting back, regaining that momentum and getting ourselves back on top. Once that goal conversion clicks, performances like that start turning into wins.
"The players kept working incredibly hard and you can see from the chances we created how much they want to find a way to win."
Storey also thanked the Brunton Park support for sticking with the side throughout the evening.
"The fans were brilliant again. They stayed with us, kept pushing us, and we really appreciate the support they continue to give the players.
"We wanted to send them home with three points, but hopefully they could see the effort from the boys and how much we were pushing to win the game right until the end."
