Caig upbeat despite defeat

Carlisle's joint caretaker manager Tony Caig did his best to sound an upbeat note despite a 1-0 defeat at Shrewsbury.

The Cumbrians, yet to win in eight League Two games this season, were sunk by a header from Shrewsbury defender Jermaine Grandison two minutes before half-time. They also had defender Paul Thirlwell, who is currently leading the team with Caig, sent off for a second bookable offence in the closing stages. Carlisle are still to appoint a permanent successor to replace former boss Graham Kavanagh. Caig said: "I can't predict the future and I don't know what's going to happen long term. Yes, it's worrying, you're bottom of the league, that's plain to see, everyone can see that. "The way forward, obviously, there's going to be a new manager coming in through the door. I would imagine the new manager will want to make his own signings and that on top of the squad that's here, with injuries permitting and players back, it will be quite a healthy squad and I think it's got more than enough to be up the league." Caig, whose side were close to an equaliser when Antony Sweeney's effort was touched onto the bar by Jayson Leutwiler, added: "I'm not saying we're in a false position because we're not, the league doesn't lie, but we have to be better. "The players are trying and over the previous four games we've probably had an hour's worth of football when we weren't at the standards that we've set, and that's cost us, the second half against Bury on Saturday and then the first half tonight. "Apart from those periods of time, 60, 90 minutes, we've been more than capable of matching what we're playing against." Shrewsbury were just pleased to pick up three points following back-to-back league defeats at Hartlepool and Stevenage. They have no such problems at the Greenhous Meadow and have now won all five of their home games in league and cup this season. Assistant manager Mike Jackson said: "When you lose two games, things can get a little bit edgy when you've not took a couple of chances, but I think the three points were the most important thing." Jackson, the number two to Micky Mellon, also praised the contribution of right-back Grandison, who was his side's unlikely match-winner after scoring his first goal for two years. He said: "Over the last few games we've created quite a lot of chances, especially at Stevenage the other day, and Jermaine popped up with a great header after staying in the box. "He did well at Stevenage and he's done well again and that's credit to him. Jermaine's got to keep those standards high because when he plays like that he's a big plus for the team." Shrewsbury are handily placed in sixth place and Jackson stressed the importance of starting to pick up more points on their travels. "That's a big thing for us and now we've got to start picking up points away on the road as well because we're well capable," he added. "I think in all the games we've played apart from maybe Hartlepool I think we've deserved at least a point, if not all three."