Manager John Sheridan has warned Carlisle United risk blowing a big opportunity as they slide further down League Two.

Their 2-0 defeat at leaders MK Dons saw the Blues slip into the bottom half of the table.

Sheridan was again left to rue Carlisle’s lack of firepower as they failed to take chances before the high-flying hosts pulled clear.

The frustrated manager said it is the shortcoming that is going to cost his team in the long run and could even put them at risk of a struggle.

“We’re just making life very difficult,” he said. “We’re letting an opportunity go by here - a massive opportunity.

“We should be believing that we should be getting in and around the play-offs for Christmas and New Year, and we’re just letting things slip and go by.

“We need to get a grip. We can’t be one week winning, next week losing, win one, lose two…it won’t get you anywhere.

“You’ll be in the middle of the table which is no good to me. It’s not what I want. If teams start winning you could find yourself dropping further down.”

United are now seven points adrift of the play-off places and the prospect of being in the race looks more remote than ever after Jordan Houghton and Kieran Agard struck for MK Dons.

Sheridan admitted Carlisle’s work in the final third again left plenty to be desired despite some better play in other areas.

On the prospect of additions, with top scorer Ashley Nadesan set to leave, Sheridan said: “I’ll look and see who’s available. That’s all I can do.

“Whoever’s available and I think is gonna help us get goals, I’ll try and get in.

He added: “They [MK Dons] got the first goal at a good time, and they are a good footballing side, who take care of the ball, and made life difficult.

“At the end we were still trying to go forward but it’s easier when you’re 2-0 down and the opposition take their foot off it.

“It’s that cutting edge. I also think the biggest thing is that the players don’t demand from each other enough, and I’ll keep saying it.”

Regarding the hosts’ goals, he added: “We had a lot of bodies behind the ball, but it’s about people pushing each other, demanding from each other, stop things happening.

“We said at half-time that we needed to do it better. We gave it away too easily in good areas high up the pitch. Their strikers kept the ball. They brought their players into the game more and more, we didn’t.”

Hallam Hope’s failure to convert a good chance late in the first half was also earmarked as a key moment.

Sheridan said: “H knows - he’s said in [the dressing room] that he should score and then it’s a totally different game.

“Lincoln score that goal, MK Dons score that goal, Colchester score that goal, we don’t.

“When you get those chances in a tight game against a good team who are unbeaten at home, you’ve got to take them. I’ve said it before, we nearly do this, nearly do that. It’s not good enough.”