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Carlisle welcome Bristol Rovers to Cumbria tomorrow afternoon hoping to improve on a relatively poor home record against the Pirates. Of the 16 games played, United have won seven, the visitors six, and the other three have been drawn.
Last season in League One though, in early April, the Blues picked up all three points in a match in which all the action was packed into 15 second-half minutes. The fun beginning after 56 minutes when Jeff Hughes was sent off for a professional foul on Adam Clayton, with Ian Harte then converting the Carlisle spot-kick.
The lead, in front of 5,407 fans, only lasted sixty seconds though when Paul Heffernan levelled for Rovers. It was soon United back in front however just after the hour-mark when Jason Price headed home, with Harte once more from the penalty spot making sure of the victory for the Cumbrians on 71 minutes following a foul on Price.
One of those matches that did finish level came in the previous campaign on the last day of February 2009 after United had taken the lead in only the fourth minute through Graham Kavanagh. That lead didn't last long though as Jeff Hughes equalised only nine minutes later, with no further goals then being scored to keep the 5,343 spectators entertained.
In October 2005 the visitors got their best victory at Carlisle as they ran out 3-1 winners in a League Two match. Debutant Alan O'Brien opened the scoring for United in the seventh minute, as 5,317 fans looked on, but Rovers fought back in the second-half to notch three goals and win 3-1.
The Blues helping them out though with own goals from Danny Livesey on 57 and Zigor Aranalde after 82 before Junior Agogo made sure of all three points for the Pirates with a last minute strike. That win, along with a 2-0 success in the 2003-04 season is Rovers's biggest margin of victory at Brunton Park.
For United's best triumph at home to the Gas you have to go way back to the 1962-63 Division Three campaign when the Blues triumphed 4-0. The goals that day coming from Joe Livingstone, Hugh McIlmoyle, Barry Brayton and Les Dagger in front of 5,354 spectators.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams | |||||
| 2010/2011 | Sat 30 Oct | Bristol Rovers | 1 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2009/2010 | Fri 02 Apr | Carlisle | 3 - 1 | Bristol Rovers | LGE1 |
| 2009/2010 | Sat 14 Nov | Bristol Rovers | 3 - 2 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 28 Feb | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Bristol Rovers | LGE1 |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 09 Aug | Bristol Rovers | 2 - 3 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 29 Dec | Bristol Rovers | 3 - 0 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 22 Sep | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Bristol Rovers | LGE1 |
Recent respective form guides
Carlisle have been playing quite well at home recently, winning three, drawing two and losing just one of their last six games at Brunton Park. The goals for column just outweighs the goals against over this period, at twelve to ten.
Bristol Rovers meanwhile have an average recent record on the road, seeing them win only one, draw two of their last six matches away from the Memorial Stadium. While the Pirates have netted a healthy twelve goals, a bumper sixteen have also hit the back of the wrong net.
Carlisle find themselves struggling down in 17th position in the league at the moment having picked up 28 points from their 21 matches contested to date. Bristol Rovers on the other hand are stuck in the relegation zone of Npower League One, in 22nd place, with a return of just 23 points from their 22 games played thus far.
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 |
| Carlisle | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
| Bristol Rovers | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 3 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
The match against Bristol Rovers is certainly an interesting one with the Footymad panel deciding it's going to end up with a victory for the Cumbrians in a close run game..... Home Win
| Sequence statistics | |
| Carlisle | Latest two matches ended in defeat. Not won in the four most recent games. |
| Bristol Rovers | Lost last two away matches. Not won in previous four away games. No victory in the eight most recent matches. |