Carlisle manager Mike Williamson said he could understand the frustration of the traveling fans after his side were booed off following a 1-0 defeat to Tranmere at Prenton Park.
Chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning,” rang out from a large section of the 1,300 supporters who made the journey from Cumbria as United fell six points adrift of safety in Sky Bet League Two.
The home side took the lead in the 23rd minute when Cameron Norman latched on to a Kieron Morris cross to slide the ball home from six yards for his first goal for the club.
Williamson said: “I can completely understand the frustration of the fans as that wasn’t acceptable today.
“I can only apologise as that was nowhere near good enough and it’s so disappointing to go from the last couple of performances where we were on the front foot to that today.
“I feel the emotional weight we are under is just too much for some of the lads and that’s an honest assessment.
“As soon as their goal went in it took the energy out of us and you can just see the lads playing with a lot of weight on their shoulders.”
“We’ve got to work on helping each other and supporting each other as there are a lot of young lads that this is a new experience for them and a real tough situation to be in.
“We’ve just had an open conversation and from top to bottom it’s not been good enough and there’s a lot of self reflection needed right now.”
It could have been 2-0 before half time only for Harvey Saunders’ flying header to be pushed wide by Gabe Breeze in the visitors’ goal.
After the break the Cumbrians looked more dangerous and could have been level, with Aaron Hayden and substitute Dan Adu-Adjei both coming close
Kristian Dennis had the chance to make things more comfortable in the dying moments, firing wide from range, but Rovers held on for their fourth home victory of the season to leave United rooted to the bottom of the table.
Tranmere manager Nigel Adkins said: ”It was an excellent win, a 1-0 victory, a clean sheet and Luke McGee’s made just one save today, which was an important one.
“The team have worked so hard today and there was lots of energy on the pitch. We wanted to get after them and press them and the work rate of the players was phenomenal.
“I’m delighted for Cam Norman on scoring his first goal for the club today, we’ve been working hard on the training ground, it was a good cross and a good goal, so I’m really pleased.
“The work rate of the players, the adaptability of the shape to play against this opposition and the magnitude of the game and the massive support from the fans and it was a good afternoon for the football club.
“It’s the start of the year and an important home win, there’s a long way to go and everyone is pulling together to try and get our club moving in the right direction.”
