Johnny Mullins was frustrated Oxford United could not reward their fans’ dedication as the longest trip of the league season ended in a 2-1 defeat.

An impressive 362 away supporters were at Carlisle United, a 540-mile round trip from Oxford.

They were celebrating late in the first half, when Danny Hylton put the visitors in front, but went home empty-handed after the Cumbrians scored twice in the final 20 minutes.

Mullins regretted not being able to repay their effort with a positive result.

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He said: “It was unbelievable and we do take our hats off to them.

“We appreciate their support and we’re just bitterly disappointed we couldn’t give them anything to go home and cheer about.”

The centre back was particularly disappointed in the way many of United’s problems were self-inflicted.

After getting a lead, the visitors struggled to impose themselves in the second half.

The passing football, which has become their trademark this season, evaporated and United could not hold the ball up front.

It helped Carlisle build pressure, leading to two goals from close range, which Mullins thought were preventable.

He said: “I think (the winner) was a missed clearance and somebody just managed to toe poke it in.

“It’s so frustrating to lose a game like that, but the first goal wasn’t good enough either. We can’t really as a defensive unit pinpoint anyone.

“We should’ve been better, kept the ball better and taken the pressure off ourselves.”

He added: “They are a team that plays to their strengths.

“It’s not particularly attractive, but it worked for them. It’s disappointing we’ve lost a game like this to a team like this who we class ourselves as better than.

“But if we can’t keep the ball then we’re going to be under pressure and that goes throughout the team.

“We had to do a lot of work, but it was only through our own poor work.”

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