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The Blues face a trip to Sussex tomorrow, needing to change their fortunes in Brighton. Carlisle hoping to improve on a record which has seen them lose in over half the games played between the two sides on the South coast.
The most recent encounter between the teams was less than a year ago in late December 2006, with Carlisle coming out on top as 2-1 winners in a League One match. Brighton taking the lead through Joe Gatting in the 37th minute in front of 5,436 spectators at the Withdean Stadium.
United fought back strongly after the break though with Zigor Aranalde equalising from the rebound on 56 minutes after Karl Hawley's header had come back off the underside of the Albion crossbar. Neale McDermott then grabbing a late winner for the Blues in the 82nd minute when he thumped the ball home following Wayne Henderson's save from Hawley's penalty.
Carlisle's other three wins on Sussex soil have bizarrely all been 3-1 victories. United winning by that scoreline in 1998-99 - goals from Scott Dobie, Steve Finney and Scott Paterson (attendance 4,163), and in the 1996-97 promotion season - goals from Stephane Pounewatchy, Warren Aspinall and Allan Smart (attendance 4,155).
The other victory came in another Division Four promotion campaign, in 1963-64, as United went up alongside local rivals Workington, the goals on that last day of the season coming from a John Evans brace and Hugh McIlmoyle (attendance 8,773).
Brighton's biggest margin of victory over the Blues came just over 20 years ago at the old Goldstone Ground in the 1985-86 Second Division "Jim Tolmie" relegation campaign that saw the Blues fall through the trapdoor along with now Premiership clubs Middlesbrough and Fulham.
In front of 8,608 spectators United found themselves 2-0 down at half-time only to ship another four goals in the second period, a solitary consolation strike from Rob Wakenshaw leaving the final scoreline at a gruesome 6-1 to the Seagulls.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2006/2007 | Sat 30 Dec | Brighton | 1 - 2 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2006/2007 | Sat 23 Sep | Carlisle | 3 - 1 | Brighton | LGE1 |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 21 Apr | Carlisle | 0 - 0 | Brighton | LGE2 |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 04 Nov | Brighton | 4 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 1999/2000 | Sat 06 May | Brighton | 1 - 0 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 1999/2000 | Sat 09 Oct | Carlisle | 0 - 1 | Brighton | LGE2 |
| 1998/1999 | Sat 09 Jan | Brighton | 1 - 3 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
Brighton have lost just once in their last six home games, winning four and drawing the other one, their only defeat at the Withdean Stadium in that block of matches coming against Leeds United. A healthy total of twelve goals have been scored by the Seagulls in those games although six have been conceded.
Carlisle have an average recent record on the road, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six games away from Brunton Park. The Cumbrians have a narrow positive goal difference over these matches, with seven goals for and six against.
Brighton lie just outside the play-off positions, in seventh, in the League One table, picking up 25 points from their 16 games so far. Carlisle are leading the way in League One though, with their 15 games giving them a return of 28 points. To go above United in the table tomorrow the Seagulls must beat the Cumbrians by four clear goals.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Last six games form guide | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Brighton | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 12 |
| Carlisle | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
Carlisle have an average recent record on the road, and this could be the reason why Brighton may poach a narrow victory, according to the Madmen. Home win
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Brighton | Not lost in last four home games. Unbeaten run of seven matches overall. |
| Carlisle | Not won in previous two away games. No win in the four most recent matches. |