PAUL Simpson believes that some 'really poor decisions' cost his side against Wigan Athletic. 

In their final game of 2023, the Blues suffered a 2-0 at the hand of Shaun Maloney's Latics at the DW Stadium, with first-half goals from Josh Magennis and Liam Morrison proving to be decisive despite Carlisle's attempted second-half fightback.

Speaking at full-time in Greater Manchester, Simpson praised his side's second-half character but admitted that the first half was not up to par. 

He said: "You certainly can't come to places like Wigan with the forwards they have got and give them a start like they did.

"I thought in the first 25 minutes we made some really poor decisions in terms of being in the final third where we could have got some shots off and we didn't.

"It is a rash challenge by Josh [Emmanuel] and he doesn't need to do it, he doesn't need to bring him down and second half we had a bit of a go, had some chances.

Simpson also discussed Carlisle's pressing need for attacking reinforcements, with the Blues' plethora of squandered chances against Wigan Athletic proving to be another example of this. 

He said: "It is the story of our season, you don't need to be a coach or a genius to know that we have not got enough in the final third. 

"We have had opportunities today, maybe we needed a bit of luck when they ball deflected over the bar but we have got to be finishing some of those chances.

"We have had some good deliveries and good set plays, like we did at Fleetwood but we have got to finish them if we want to have any chance."