Carlisle United boss on Paul Huntington error and Harrogate Town loss

The experienced Cumbrian defender’s own-goal saw the Blues go down 1-0 to the strugglers at Brunton Park.

Simpson said he does not need to speak to Huntington about the late error that cost the high-flying Cumbrians.

And he said attention should also be paid to other areas where United came up short.

“He’ll be as disappointed as anybody else. And that's why I haven't said anything to him, because there's no point – he knows what's happened,” said Carlisle’s manager of the centre-half's 82nd-minute mistake.

“And we all know what happened. We know what the consequences of it were.

READ: Big match verdict on Carlisle United 0-1 Harrogate Town

“And it was just a shame because I thought him and Morgan Feeney defended really, really well over the over the rest of the game

“It was a case of no risk today - just put your foot through it, turn it around.

“Only Hunts knows what he was thinking and what happened with it.

“But there were lots of other reasons why we didn't win the game. And really, it should have just been a 0-0 draw if anything.”

Carlisle’s four-game winning run came to an end against a club who they have not beaten in seven attempts in league and cup.

The Blues, though, remain third in League Two as fourth-placed Northampton Town could only draw with Walsall.

Simpson felt his side were not inventive enough to break down a stubborn Harrogate defence.

Harrogate keeper Pete Jameson holds on under pressure from Morgan Feeney and Joe Garner (Image: Ben Holmes)

“I probably don't need to analyse how we've lost it in terms of the goal because I know how that's happened. But we need to just have a look at why we didn't have that quality in the final third more than anything,” he said.

“We had lots of play in and around their 18-yard box, but weren't able to just find that quality, unfortunately.

“And we're talking about players who we know have got quality. Jordan Gibson, JK Gordon, Kristian Dennis, Owen Moxon, Jon Mellish…all of these players.

“We threatened to do something without actually going the full hog.”

While Harrogate failed to get a single shot on target, Carlisle’s pressure saw them win ten corners.

Simpson, though, accepted they did not make the most of them.

“I didn't think the delivery was great,” he said. “There's lots of bodies in and around, but I think the only one we really made first contact on was with Hunts, and he just went past the ball and it came off the back of his head.

READ MORE: Carlisle United v Harrogate Town - as it happened

“So again, there are areas to keep improving on. We’ve just got to keep working at it.

“The big thing is we accept that the players are human beings and we can't just flick the switch and send them out and expect the same thing every week.

“It just doesn't happen. And we've just got to hope that this is a little blip and the run starts again next weekend.”

Simpson also praised Harrogate for the way they kept his side at bay.

It was a first win in six for Simon Weaver’s side.

“Credit to Harrogate – they didn’t make mistakes, they defended for their lives and they got some important blocks in,” Simpson said.

“And we didn't expect [anything else] because they're scrapping for their lives down at the bottom of the league and we're scrapping for something really, really positive.

“There’s no reason why they should be scrapping more, and I don't think they were over the game. I thought as a team we worked really hard. I thought we defended well. And it's just that one little blip that affects you.

“It looked like it was going to peter out to a 0-0 draw. They didn't do enough to win it and we didn't certainly do enough to get a winner either – so it's the team who makes the least mistakes.

“And I know all goals come from mistakes and that's just a one that we have to take on the chin.”