Steven Pressley felt a first-half spell in which Carlisle United lost belief in their way of playing cost them at Cheltenham.

The Blues’ 2-0 defeat at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium was their third straight league setback.

Goals from Gavin Reilly on 15 minutes and a controversial Luke Varney effort before half-time earned the points for the Robins.

Carlisle improved after the break but could not find a way through.

Pressley was critical of the way United conceded, and of how they lost their way in the first half.

He said: “I actually thought the opening 15-20 minutes, until their goal, we’d started the game really well – we were really aggressive in the opening period, and we were dominant in the opening period.

“It was the goal against us that spooked us. Once we lost the first goal we lost our discipline, our composure, our belief to play, and for 15-20 minutes we looked unrecognisable to what we are.

“There were a number of aspects that didn’t help – our back four line was too deep, we needed to push that quicker and be more aggressive, we needed to win more first contacts, and we needed to believe in the way we play more.

“We did that in the second half and looked the sort of team I want us to look – a fast, attacking, passing team. But we cannot give ourselves the mountain to climb like we did.”

Reilly’s opener came as United failed to defend a Cheltenham corner routine and United’s boss was particularly aggrieved at this.

“It rankles with me because, [with] footage we showed the players, it was an aspect we went over on the morning of the game on the training pitch, so we were absolutely clear on that moment how they work it,” he said.

“We cannot give up goals like that, especially when it’s been covered in the manner it had been. We have to take responsibility as a group and not allow these things to happen. It’s really disappointing, that aspect.

“I understand my responsibility. But when we cover something in the manner we do, we have to deal with the situation and we didn’t do that, so I’m really disappointed with that aspect.

“I spoke to the players before – when you come away from home you need a strong mentality to win these games, you have to win your one-to-one battles, and in that moment we didn’t.”

United's boss said he did not clearly see the moment leading to Cheltenham's second where Varney appeared to handle the ball.

Pressley was asked why nobody was able to get a grip of United’s performance in that damaging first-half spell, and whether he felt they were too lightweight in certain areas.

He replied: “That’s something we need to look to – sometimes you do want your experienced players to calm the game. We just didn’t do it for that period.

“I actually think it wasn’t so much the physical aspect, it was that we didn’t play. We absolutely didn’t do the things we’re good at. A lot of our game comes from when you play: your immediate press, your recoveries, come from when you play, but if you don’t play we don’t get a lot of our game.

“You can see the type of football we’re capable of once we play. The opening 15 minutes and entirety of the second half – that’s what I expect for us.”

Pressley did not call on new striker signing Elias Sorensen even though United were chasing a two-goal deficit in the second half.

He instead brought on Olufela Olomola at the break, and later Hallam Hope and Mo Sagaf, the latter replacing Jack Bridge late on with the midfielder appearing to be suffering with a knock. Pressley said Carlisle forced a number of chances and needed one of those “big moments” to go in their favour.

Asked why Sorensen was not used, Pressley said: “Sometimes you can make change for the sake of change. I actually thought we were functioning really well in the second half. I didn’t think the change was required.”

United’s manager said his side must continue to have faith in the way they are trying to play.

He said: “We’re a new team that’s growing and trying to play in a certain way. You have to learn to overcome difficulties and keep doing the things you’re good at.

“We manged the early part of the game really well but then stopped believing and playing in our manner – we went more direct when it was on to play and it allowed the game to become stretched and a second ball game, and that’s not what we want.

“We have a responsibility to keep improving, but there’s many aspects of the performance I was pleased with. The message is we have to get better at what we’re trying to do – that’s the reality of the situation. By not giving away the goals we gave away.”

United are 20th in the fledgling League Two table, having lost three of their opening four league games for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign.

They host league new boys Salford this Saturday.