John Sheridan will resume his centre-half hunt today after blasting his team's defending in their opening-day defeat at Exeter.

Carlisle United boss Sheridan said his side were guilty of getting the "basics" wrong as they slipped to a 3-1 reverse in Devon.

The Blues boss admitted that he may be able to make only one more addition to his squad before Thursday's transfer deadline.

While he said that ideally he would also target a new striker could he afford it, defence is likely to be the priority.

"We need a centre-half and hopefully I'll have something done this week," Sheridan said.

"I know what I'd like to bring in. At this moment in time I've got a squad and I've got to work hard, whatever team I pick, to win the next game."

Asked whether a striker could also be a priority after last week's departure of Cole Stockton to Tranmere, Sheridan said: "Not really. If we had the finances I'd be looking for another striker, but it's not to be.

"I've got to deal with what I've got."

Sheridan also insisted his surprise call to leave last season's player of the year Jamie Devitt on the bench was simply a selection decision.

Amid speculation from some supporters that the midfielder could be in the sights of other clubs, Sheridan said: "No, he's not [leaving].

"It was just my team selection, a team I thought would win the game.

"Just because I leave someone on the bench [it doesn't mean he is leaving].

"No player is good enough at the club to think he has a guaranteed place in the team."

With Mike Jones also joining Devitt on the bench, Sheridan gave debuts to five new signings at St James Park, with Joe Fryer, Gary Miller, George Glendon, Regan Slater and Jerry Yates all handed starts.

The hosts, though, scored twice in the first half through Nicky Law and Jonathan Forte before Richie Bennett pulled one back.

Sub Tristan Abrahams clinched Exeter's win in the dying seconds.

Sheridan said: "The goals were poor. Any goals you concede are poor but we need to defend a lot better and get closer to people.

"We made life very difficult for ourselves, going 2-0 down. We didn’t start the game and we were flat.

"I can't wait to see the goals and analyse them but I know what's gone on. We got numbers behind the ball but they weren't doing a lot.

"It's just basics. At this level of football, do the basics properly please. I can talk all I want but once they go out on the pitch it's the players who make the decisions.

"We do make the game look very difficult at times. Good players do the simple things really well, and that's why they're good players."

Sheridan also conceded he may have got his team selection wrong.

"Sometimes you see little things where you think, 'I've possibly picked the wrong team'.

"I'm quite honest. I'm not frightened to say I've picked the wrong team. But the first 20 minutes has killed us."

Sheridan, meanwhile, praised the 235 Blues fans who made one of the longest trips of the season on the opening day.

"The fans were brilliant," he said. "It was a long journey and they will have been disappointed going back after a defeat.

"Hopefully they will be leaving with a win at home next week."

Sheridan also refused to blame United's nightmare journey on Friday for their defeat. It took the Blues more than 10 hours to reach Devon due to heavy traffic.

"That's not an excuse," the manager said. "We were still playing with a round ball on a beautiful pitch on a sunny day. No excuses."