Carlton left as only winless team after four rounds as ‘horrendous’ errors prove fatal against Gold Coast

Premiership coach Paul Roos has lashed the number of fatal skill errors made by Carlton as it blew a golden opportunity to record its first win of the season against Gold Coast, while coach Brendon Bolton admitted his side lacked composure.

An angry Dale Thomas after the final siren as Suns players celebrate the win. Picture: Getty

Premiership coach Paul Roos has lashed the number of fatal skill errors made by Carlton as it blew a golden opportunity to record its first win of the season against Gold Coast on Sunday.

Roos said the Blues made “horrendous” mistakes under pressure which allowed the Suns to snatch an 8.11 (59) to 8.9 (57) victory when Jack Bowes goaled with 10 seconds left.

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“The skill errors were just horrendous. There are so many players still making mistakes,” Roos said on Fox Footy.

“Carlton are young but so are the Suns.”

The Blues were seconds from their first victory in 260 days when they led by four points at Metricon Stadium, only for Bowes to bounce through the Suns’ matchwinner.

An angry Dale Thomas after the final siren as Suns players celebrate the win. Picture: Getty

Coach Brendon Bolton says a win is just “around the corner” as the Blues were left to rue a missed opportunity.

Carlton was in front on the scoreboard for 76 per cent of the match and had led by as much as 18 points at the eight-minute-mark of the third quarter.

The Blues won the contested possession count 146-142 but lost clearances 35-40 and went down 46-54 in inside-50s.

Bolton said the effort was there from his players, but composure was still lacking at crucial times.

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“There’s not a lack of belief. There’s a lack of belief when you’re miles away,” Bolton said.

“There’s enough signs to show that we’re in the right direction but geez we’re determined to get a result.

“There’s a win around the corner if we give the effort we’re giving but we need to get some polish in our play.”

Bolton said the Blues should have had more numbers around the ball for the dying-seconds contest from which Bowes scored but the main issue was they “didn’t capitalise going inside 50 enough”.

“Not taking anything away from Gold Coast … but we defeated ourselves on many plays today,” Bolton said.

“To the supporters, we’re hurting with you. We’re frustrated with you.”

Key forward Mitch McGovern left the ground with a rolled ankle in the final quarter but returned to the field to finish the game.

Captain Patrick Cripps finished with 30 disposals, eight clearances, 12 tackles and two goals.

“When we get momentum as a team we don’t put scoreboard pressure on. But we can’t question the effort,” Cripps said in a post-match interview with Fox Footy.

“We’re 0-4 but we’ve had a chance to win every game. We learn on the go. This one hurts a bit but we’ll just keep working hard, keep fronting up and some of these younger guys are really growing pretty quickly so the results are going to come soon.”

Carlton has now won just three of 36 matches dating back to Round 14, 2017.

Jack Bowes celebrates kicking the winner with 10 seconds remaining.

Co-captain Cripps conceded this team would be left to rue a missed chance for their first win since Round 19 last season.

“We probably should have put it away in the third quarter,” Cripps said.

“The effort is there. It’s just a bit of polish on the end.”

Cripps, who was herculean with 30 possessions and 12 tackles, was adamant the tide would turn soon for winless Carlton.

“The effort has been there the whole four weeks,” he said.

“We are 0-4 but we have had a chance to win every game.

“We’re learning on the go, this one hurts a bit, but … some of these young guys are really growing pretty quickly so the results are going to come.”

The news could get worse for Carlton with midfielder Will Setterfield set to come under scrutiny for a tackle which left Gold Coast’s Wil Powell concussed.