IT'S a case of what might have been after we were gunned out of the FA Cup by Carlisle.

While we ended up bitterly disappointed by Saturday's 2-0 defeat, the Cumbrians went on to be drawn at home in the third round against mighty Arsenal.

It's a situation which clearly highlights what can happen if you don't perform on the day -- and we certainly didn't on Saturday!

But to get a chance to play against the likes of Arsenal, our players must realise that they have to do more -- hopefully they have.

We never reached any standards on Saturday for whatever reason. It's difficult to put your finger on it, but there was a lack of everything.

It's probably the first occasion for a long time that I've said there was a lack of effort, which is very usual for our group of players.

Last season we probably produced our worst performance of the campaign in the FA Cup --down at Welling in the fourth qualifying round. So far this term we have done just the same.

I remember Liverpool cup games from years ago when we used to get drawn against lower opposition and they approached it like it was their cup final. It was blood and thunder.

I've also seen many other FA Cup games and they used to be very special, played at a 100 miles an hour. But on Saturday the match never reached any great heights.

I must say, though, that I thought Carlisle looked a much better side than they did when they came to us in early September and won 1-0 in a Nationwide League Division Three match.

But, to be honest, I think we did make them look good because we didn't do anything right on the day.

At the end of the game we had a chat about where we got from here. And, believe me, whatever we do it will be positive!

But a lot of the players held their hands up and said that prior to the game they felt tired, heavy-legged and they just never produced anywhere near the form that they normally do.

I get excited before all games and Saturday was no exception because I thought it was a winnable tie for us. I realised it was going to be tough, though, because they are a difficult side to play against.

But sometimes you get teams like Carlisle who, for whatever reason, you can't beat them. We've played two games against them now and we've hardly had a shot on goal.

Hopefully, that will all change tonight when he meet them again in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy at Aggborough.

I must admit I was disappointed on Saturday, not so much for myself, but for the players -- this was an ideal opportunity for them to have their little bit of fame.

Some have had it, but others haven't and a game against the likes of Arsenal for instance would have been their reward.

But we mustn't get downhearted. We have got a very busy league programme coming up and we are looking forward to it.

I certainly hope the Carlisle defeat won't have done much damage in terms of confidence.

We know we have two very difficult away games ahead -- at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday and Hull City the following week -- and we will be going there in a very positive frame of mind.

If you look on the positive side we didn't lose any ground on anyone by losing to Carlisle, but it was a game we obviously would dearly loved to have won.

It's very important now, though, that it doesn't affect our league programme. We have had two Division Three wins on the trot and hopefully we can continue in the same vein.

But wouldn't it be nice just to get a little bit of revenge against Carlisle tonight!