CARLISLE UNITED 1-0 COVENTRY CITY
City:Murphy, J Clarke, Adams, Edjenguele, Wood, Baker (Wilson 76), Moussa, Jennings, Fleck (Elliott 53), McSheffrey (Thomas 69), L Clarke. Subs: Cameron, Dunn, Barton, Christie.
Carlisle:Gillespie, Simek, Chantler, O'Hanlon, Livesey, Potts (Thirwell 78), Berrett, Noble (Cadamarteri 82), Robson, McGovern (Symington 89, Miller. Subs: Collin, Welsh, Loy, Beck.
HT CUAFC 1-0 CCFC FT CUAFC 1-0 CCFC ATT 4,071
Goals Matty Robson 2,
Referee D.Webb Booked Fleck, Moussa, Wood, Baker, Robson, Elliott.
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Failing to take their chances saw Coventry City go down to a 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United.
The City support that did not stop in Glasgow or parts of Cumbria, were hitting the M6 bright and early to get to Brunton Park and it was snowing but not settling as we arrived in Carlisle.
The 520 strong City support with supporters from as far as Kent, Basingstoke, Bristol, Newcastle, Yorkshire, as well as Coventry & Warwickshire cheered the City team in yellow onto the pitch.
However, in their first attack, the Cumbrians took the lead after 67 seconds when Matty Robson was left on his own to get in a looping header.
Gary McSheffrey fired wide six minutes later and Fleck did the same two minutes later after a good move.
Robson continued to be permitted the freedom of Brunton Park which had not changed since our last visity in 2007 too much space and fired in a shot from twenty yards at Joe Murphy in his black and grey kit which looks so much better than the pink number on Thursday.
City forced two corners in the 15th minute and a third came four minutes later when a Moussa shot was headed away. Edjenguele had his header from the resulting corner pushed over for another corner by Gillespie before Greg Abbott's side finally cleared their lines.
After the referee had failed to deal with a punch thrown at Jennings by Noble, who got away with a ticking off for kicking the ball away straight after, the City support seethed as Fleck was booked for a lot milder offence.
Failing to close down the Carlisle players was not helping the Sky Blues cause and in the 32nd minute, Murphy had to get down to a Potts shot after he had been allowed to fire at will.
In the 37th minute, the City fans fumed as McSheffrey was sent sprawling at the Warwick Road end, the referee waved play on allowing Carlisle to get a free kick for which Moussa, who battled away well, was booked.
There were huge cheers when City got a free kick a minute before the break and groans when it hit the wall.
The second half, with the snowing coming down once again, started with a clash of heads between two Carlisle players and gave the City support yet another opportunity to berate the referee.
A 50th minute corner, which came back in from the hard working Jordan Clarke was cleared before Baker gave the home keeper two easy catches.
Robins sent on Stephen Elliott to try and stop what was City's worst away performance since Brentford but in the 62nd minute, Murphy pushed one round for a corner and three minutes later, Baker won a corner which was wasted.
Leon Clarke who did not have a lot of service, fired over from a Baker cross against a Carlisle side who were dealing with every ball in the air.
With twenty minutes to go, Conor Thomas was sent on and Callum Wilson, who has spent most of the time,injured or on loan since signing a two year contract extension, also came on.
Thomas, Moussa and Clarke all missed chances as the Sky Blues continued to pump balls into the area for Gillespie to catch.
The card happy official added Stephen Elliott to the list of players cautioned and in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Robson hit the bar after Murphy had gone for a wander before the final whistle came as something of a relief.
This was a poor performance and one City will have to get out of their system before they face the league leaders on Wednesday.