Carlisle United 0 Morecambe 1: Carlisle fans chanted for Mike Williamson's removal as the Blues suffered a miserable Boxing Day defeat to rivals Morecambe.

Gwion Edwards' second-half goal was the difference in a desperate spectacle. in which Carlisle also had Jon Mellish sent off as they returned to the bottom of League Two.

United's woeful showing saw numerous chants against the head coach as things went on in the second half.

It was a defeat which saw the Cumbrians' 2024/25 campaign lurch further into crisis as Morecambe leapfrogged Carlisle to go two points above them in the relegation zone.

The defeat also ensured it would be the worst calendar year ever for home wins at Brunton Park and one seldom looked like coming in this wretched festive performance.

Aaron Hayden, Dominic Sadi and Luke Armstrong had first-half chances but Carlisle also caused plenty of their own problems, and created nothing of note after the break as Edwards' 61st-minute goal from close range earned Morecambe the points.

Morecambe celebrate their goal (Image: Barbara Abbott)

United were unchanged from the XI that started in their 0-0 draw at Port Vale, with Jack Ellis and Armstrong among those getting another start.

There was a return for Kadeem Harris on the bench after illness but Callum Guy and Ben Williams were still missing, with Georgie Kelly also out of the squad after complaining of discomfort in his calf during the warm-up at Vale Park.

Tyler Burey was also among those omitted from the 18, while keeper Jude Smith was in the league squad for the first time this season in place of Thomas Randall.

Morecambe boss Adams made two changes to his XI, with Callum Jones and Edwards coming in for Yann Songo'o and Adam Lewis.

Carlisle made the more energetic start, looking to break at Morecambe down the left through Jordan Jones and Mellish, and an early chance came from an inswinging Jones corner, but Hayden couldn't finish accurately as he arrived to meet it on the volley in the six-yard box.

Harrison Neal tested keeper Harry Burgoyne soon afterwards before visiting frontman Marcus Dackers almost pounced to block a Gabe Breeze clearance.

The visitors threatened in wide positions through Ben Tollitt, David Tutonda and Edwards, while United's fans sometimes expressed their frustration as players dwelt on the ball.

Armstrong came close to breaking the deadlock, hooking a volley just wide for the Blues, before Edwards got away from Ellis to force a diving save by Breeze.

Further Carlisle pressure came after the half-hour mark as Jones ran at a retreating defence and set up Sadi, who was denied by a good Burgoyne save.

United, though, then caused more of their own problems as Harper lost possession and Tollitt's cross was cleared, before Barclay gifted the ball to Tutonda, who drove it across the six-yard box to no avail.

These moments saw frustration among home supporters grow, with the general standard of things very much underlining why both sides occupied the bottom places of the division.

A poor start to the second half eventually yielded a chance for Dackers, whose header from Tutonda's cross lacked the power to worry Breeze.

A better chance then came when Dackers headed a cross back across goal but Harvey Macadam's volley was deflected over.

Jon Mellish was sent off in the second half (Image: Ben Holmes)

The visitors remained on top approaching the hour mark, and then after Williamson brought on Daniel Adu-Adjei for Sadi, things went from bad to worse.

First, Morecambe opened the scoring as a low ball in from the left found the arriving Edwards in space, and he eventually managed to prod the ball home.

This prompted some fans to chant "Williamson out" - and then, moments after the restart, Mellish's heavy first touch saw him late on Tom White, who went down in a heap - as ref Scott Oldham produced a straight red card.

Carlisle were furious with the decision, while fans in the Warwick Road End then chanted, 'You're getting sacked in the morning' at the Blues head coach.

When Williamson then made a double change his decision to withdraw captain Sam Lavelle drew a further angry reaction from some fans, Harrison Biggins and Harris replacing Lavelle and Jones.

Jon Mellish is sent off (Image: Ben Holmes)

United's second-half threat had been pitiful to this point, Adu-Adjei then showing some overdue pace to get to the byline and cut back, but Cameron Harper's first-time effort flew well wide.

Otherwise, the Blues were utterly bereft of attacking ideas and with three minutes of the 90 left, 'You're getting sacked in the morning' was sung at even greater volume.

Breeze denied visiting sub Paul Lewis a Morecambe second late on, before Jordan Slew ambushed Ellis and tested Breeze from the left before the keeper denied him again from a 25-yard shot.

Carlisle's injury-time efforts were to no avail and after boos greeted the full-time whistle, Williamson approached the officials for a conversation on the pitch before the head coach was jeered down the tunnel by angry home fans.

United: Breeze, Hayden, Lavelle (Biggins 70), Barclay, Ellis, Mellish, Neal, Harper, Jones (Harris 70), Sadi (Adu-Adjei 60), Armstrong. Not used: Smith, Charters, Dudik, Hetherington.

Booked: Ellis. Sent off: Mellish.

Morecambe: Burgoyne, Hendrie, Tutonda, Stott, Williams, Jones (A Lewis 81), White, Edwards (Slew 81), Macadam (P Lewis 69), Tollitt, Dackers. Not used: Taylor, Hope, Millen, Songo’o.

Goals: Edwards 61.

Booked: Hendrie, Tutonda.

Ref: Scott Oldham.

Crowd: 9,225 (678 Morecambe fans).