Paul Simpson says Carlisle United only have themselves to blame for their 4-0 thrashing by Mansfield Town.

But the Blues manager said there must be no “panic” after the heavy defeat, and said unity will be the best way to respond.

Carlisle shipped four goals in a nightmare first half against Nigel Clough’s rampant Stags.

Simpson said his side did nothing well in that dreadful period.

“There's no excuses. We got turned over,” the Blues manager said.

“They opened us up with crosses, and won second balls because they competed better.

“That's the top and bottom of it. And we've only got ourselves to blame.”

Mansfield scored all their goals in a 24-minute period in the first half, through Ollie Clarke, Alfie Kilgour, Lucas Akins and Elliott Hewitt.

READ MORE: Our big match verdict on the Blues' Mansfield thrashing

Carlisle could not muster a reply, although they held onto third place in League Two on goal difference.

The Blues have failed to score in their last three games and now face a challenge to respond in order to keep their promotion challenge on a positive track.

“I can’t think of anything we did right,” added Simpson. “There were unforced errors from everybody when we were in possession and the amount of times we put the ball out of play was incredible.

“I just can’t flower this up in any way. We were not at the races for the first 45 minutes and I don’t care who you’re playing against, you certainly can’t give the goals away like we did.

“We have to take it on the chin, learn from it, address it.”

Simpson said Mansfield were a quality side but Carlisle let themselves down in how they conceded.

That included a failure to track midfielder Clarke as he scored Mansfield’s opener.

Of their second, a corner headed home by Kilgour, the manager said: “I don't understand what's happened because players were given jobs to do and men to mark.

“Kilgour is very, very good from set plays and we specifically gave a player a job to do – and he's not the player who is challenging for it when the ball goes in.

“So we need to address it. We talk about set plays against, in knowing your job, which is the first thing: know what we expect of you. Then the biggest thing is going and doing your job. Sadly tonight we haven't done it.

“On the flip side, our [attacking] set plays, we had the delivery in and we never got anybody on the end of it. So we can talk about everything in the game. We probably just didn't do any of it very well.”

Simpson said level heads are now important in the way United respond.

He also said he was disappointed at some of the “sly” criticism he said he heard from some fans at the game – although praised supporters for how they remained behind the team after the break.

READ MORE: Carlisle United 0-4 Mansfield Town - as it happened

“We have to get dusted down from it, take whatever criticism that comes our way,” he said.

“I thought there were some sly comments [coming] our way, but in the second half I thought the supporters were absolutely fantastic with the team.

“I didn’t like some of the things I was hearing shouted from the Paddock in the first half, but I get it, we just have to accept that when we’re being beaten 4-0.

“In the second half the fans were outstanding for the way they stuck with us and I can only thank them for that because it was a difficult night for them as well.”

Carlisle must now regroup for a second home game in five days, when in-form Colchester United are the visitors.

“This is where the challenge comes now,” he said.” Because we have to have the right sort of reaction and we'll only get that right reaction if we stay calm and we stick together and everybody gets recovered and ready to go again at the weekend.

“There is no panic. Every game is going to be tough from now to the end of the season. We’ve got 15 games to go, and we’ve earned the right to be sat in third place so far.

“We have to address what we have and haven’t done in this game and get it right next time.”