Carlisle must learn from 'kick in teeth' - Simpson

Paul Simpson handed debuts to six players in Carlisle's 4-1 loss at Gillingham

Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson said that his players must learn from the damaging scoreline of their opening-day 4-1 defeat by Gillingham.

It was an inauspicious result to start their season after being relegated from League One at the end of 2023-24.

The Blues had more possession and more shots than their hosts, but were heavily beaten.

"The scoreline is a massive kick in the teeth that we've got to learn from," Simpson told BBC Radio Cumbria.

After suffering the worst season in their history, with a record number of defeats - 30 - and their lowest points tally since moving to three points for a win - also 30 - Simpson has changed things up ahead of this campaign with nine players coming in.

The starting line-up at the Priestfield Stadium included six of those, but Carlisle were behind from the second minute on a chastening afternoon.

"Anyone who wasn't here will just look at the score and think we have been absolutely battered," said Simpson.

"But that is probably not fair because I thought the performance was better than the scoreline.

"But we've got to improve. We've got to have a bit more determination to keep the ball out of our net and be a bit more ruthless at the other end."

Carlisle's next game is at home to Championship side Stoke City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (19:30 BST).