SEETHING Terry Dolan was left once again lamenting York City's sluggish start to matches after the Minstermen crashed to a 2-1 defeat at Carlisle United, their third successive reverse.

While City received plaudits for their performance in defeat to Luton last Saturday there was little comfort if any to be taken from last night's poor showing.

Carlisle, without a win prior to last night's game, produced a storming first-half display and were unfortunate not to be more than 1-0 up.

They doubled their advantage just minutes after the restart however, and despite a first senior goal for Marc Salvati just past the hour mark City were unable to salvage a point.

"You cannot give any team, no matter who they are, the start we gave Carlisle," said Dolan.

"At the end of the day we could have got something out of the game with the pressure we had in the second-half, but it is a concern now the way we are starting so slowly."

City boss Dolan admitted a gaffe from Mike Basham less than a minute into the game set the tone for the remainder of the first-half.

The former Barnet defender under-hit a back pass to goalkeeper Alan Fettis and although the City shot-stopper produced a trademark save to deny Richard Foran it put City on the back foot.

Basham and Nick Richardson were replaced at half-time by Matt Hocking and Richard Cooper and Dolan has refused to rule out changes for Saturday's tough trip to Bristol Rovers.

"We have got three or four days to work on different things before Saturday's game," said the City boss, who had postponed his immediate post-match inquest with his players until they reported for training today.

Prior to the trip to Brunton Park, the City manager had warned that Carlisle, despite the fact they were bottom of the League going into last night's game, should not be underestimated.

And Dolan insisted he was not surprised by the Cumbrians' barnstorming first-half showing in particular.

"They did exactly what we expected them to while we didn't do what I expected us to do. We lost it in the first-half," said the City boss.

Updated: 11:32 Wednesday, September 19, 2001