Carlisle United fell to a 3-0 defeat at home to play-off chasing Colchester on Saturday. Here are the views of the News & Star's regular fans' panellists:

Ste Alderson: It is getting to that stage where the majority of fans just want the season to end, and that performance suggested the players feel the same.

This was a dire Carlisle performance, unable to lay a glove on the opposition, and outclassed in every area.

The scoreline flattered us, and we were fortunate not to take a proper pasting.

You cannot knock the job Chris Beech has done, but this was a stark reminder of just how far off the pace of the top sides we are.

If the management rate a youngster like Taylor Charters, now seems to be the ideal time to give him a chance.

Predictions: Carlisle 2-1 Newport; Grimsby 2-1 Carlisle.

Graham Watt: Well that wasn’t good enough. You could see from the start we were second best all over the pitch.

We didn’t offer anything, and created very little. Colchester looked like an organised team who play for each other. We looked like we had not met each other before.

It’s the point of the season where players are looking for new contracts and their focus may be elsewhere, as this one-year-only policy could come back to bite us.

We have two very tough games this week, and we have to give a better account of ourselves in both. 

Predictions: Carlisle 1-2 Newport; Grimsby 2-2 Carlisle.

Craig Mattinson: There have been improvements in recent weeks, but this game provided us with a stark reminder of just how far behind the top teams in the division we are.

Colchester were better than us in every department, and in truth 3-0 flattered us.

I feel we contributed to our own downfall, with a host of misplaced passes and poor choices making it pretty easy for Colchester.

I also felt a change in formation was needed as our midfield was totally overrun, and Jon Mellish is not a long-term solution in the centre of the park.

Our home form is a real concern and a huge factor in the poor attendances.

Predictions: Carlisle 1-1 Newport; Grimsby 2-1 Carlisle.

David MacLachlan: After all the optimism of recent weeks, it was back to reality against a pretty decent Colchester.

We looked like a bottom-six side on Saturday, and deserved the stuffing we got.

Adam Collin’s form has dipped lately, but he has dug us out of a hole many times and will do so again if the fans give him a break and support him.

It is hard to fathom out just why we were so poor, but once the second goal was conceded, our confidence dropped.

The Beech Boys #Good Vibrations idea is a good one. Although, after this performance, ‘God Only Knows’ exactly where the club is actually heading.

Predictions: Carlisle 1-1 Newport; Grimsby 2-1 Carlisle.

Bruce Vander: It was clear, once they had got over their initial hesitance, that Colchester would test us.

Sadly, that is what happened, and they were far too strong for a mediocre Blues side, who were overwhelmed in all areas by a talented, slick opposition.

United once again looked toothless in attack, while a lack of vision and cohesion in midfield meant they looked incapable of getting back into the game after the first goal. A nervous defence didn’t help matters.

Despite United’s recent upturn in form, Beech has his work cut out to make this team – with a few summer additions – a force in this division.

Predictions: Carlisle 1-1 Newport; Grimsby 1-2 Carlisle.

Michelle Hall: Saturday’s performance was by far the worst since Chris Beech came in as head coach.

It just was not the Carlisle players’ day, which was disappointing after the recent improvement in form.

Carlisle had their chances but just couldn’t deliver.

Colchester are pushing for promotion and the gap between the two teams in the league table was, sadly, all too apparent on Saturday. 

Tuesday evening sees the visit of Newport, as we play our game in hand. United fans must look forward, and hope we can turn our form around after the latest setback, and gain at least a point from it. 

Predictions: Carlisle 1-1 Newport; Grimsby 1-2 Carlisle.