Murray low after Mansfield loss

Mansfield boss Adam Murray admitted that it was "a low day" for his side as a 2-1 loss at Carlisle saw then slip into the bottom two.

Carlisle produced a stirring second-half fightback with goals from home debutant Charlie Wyke and Kyle Dempsey after Vadaine Oliver's header had given Stags the lead on the stroke of half time. Murray, a former Carlisle player, said: "Disappointment would be an understatement. I don't know how we've lost it. "It's saying the same things we have been saying in the last few weeks. We gave away two awful goals and there was a lack of concentration on our behalf. "We got caught playing the way Carlisle wanted to play and we never got hold of the ball and dictated. We had no-one to put a foot on the ball and take control of the game. "We knew set plays were their major threat and you rely on individuals to do their job. Oliver's was a good goal, but their staff spent half-time in the referee's ear and some of the decisions he came up with were not the best. "We've dropped into the bottom two and it's a low day for us. We have led games and given stupid goals away. We have to pick ourselves up quickly because there's a lot of work to do. "We've a fight on our hands and need to produce results. We have 57 points to play for and a target we need to hit to stay in the league so we have to step up to the plate. "If they don't have the stomach for the battle then they will not be on the battlefield." Carlisle manager Keith Curle was quick to praise the character of his side after going a goal down on the stroke of half-time - a goal he felt should have been ruled out for an offside in the build-up. He said:"The pleasing thing is that despite losing the goal like that when it should not have been given there was no panic or despair. We all believed we would get something out of the game. Every man and his dog thought their goal came from an offside position. The Carlisle manager also felt his side were denied a second-half penalty when Stags goalkeeper Adam Smith sent Wyke tumbling as the forward tried to go round him in the box. "I don't understand how he gave a corner and not a penalty," he added. "Mansfield played well, but we stood up. We are making plans short, medium and long term and step by step getting the benefits."