CARLISLE United boss Paul Simpson had thanked the fans who travelled to the DW Stadium for the Blues' final match of 2023.

4,128 Carlisle fans made the trip from Cumbria to Greater Manchester and were in fine voice throughout the clash despite their sides eventual 2-0 defeat at the hands of Shaun Maloney's Wigan Athletic.

The travelling contingent capped off a memorable year for Carlisle fans with the away trip and after full-time at the DW Stadium Simpson thanked every single fan for their backing.

He said: "A massive positive is that crowd of fans behind the goal who, credit to them, stuck with us when it would have been very easy for them to go under and go home but they stuck with us. 

"I can only thank them for that."

Simpson also lauded the immense level of support from the travelling Carlisle fans in the face of the sideways Wigan rain and adverse result. 

He said: "It is unbelievable, in horrible conditions as well. They sang and made a noise and as I keep saying we are just not doing enough at them moment. 

"I don't think it is through a lack of effort, it is a lack of sensible decisions in the first half and a lack of quality when we are in good areas, and second half it is just that little bit of quality that has let us down."