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The Cumbrians travel east to take on Hartlepool, needing to turn around their fortunes at Victoria Park. United hoping to improve on a record which has seen them end up on the losing side in just over half the games played in Cleveland.
The last time the two Uniteds met at Victoria Park was almost five years ago in January 2003, the Pools carving out a narrow 2-1 victory in a Division Three match on their way to promotion that season. In front of 5,071 spectators Carlisle actually took the lead with a goal for Jamie Burt on his debut after nine minutes. Second-half goals from Graeme Lee on 49 and Eifion Williams on 79 ensured that all three points stayed in Hartlepool though.
Carlisle's biggest win at Victoria Park was a 6-0 victory in the Division Four promotion campaign of 1963-64. The goals for the Blues that day, as 3,815 fans looked on, coming from Hugh McIlmoyle (2), Eric Johnstone, Reginald Davies, Barry Brayton and a 'Pools own goal. Interestingly the Blues thumped Hartlepools United, as they were then named, 7-1 at home that season to complete an aggregate score of 13-1.
Meanwhile the best margin of victory for the home side over Carlisle has been by three goals on numerous occasions. The Pools' winning by that distance in six of their 21 wins over the Cumbrians at Victoria Park.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2004/2005 | Tue 02 Nov | Carlisle | 0 - 1 | Hartlepool | ASSM |
| 2002/2003 | Wed 01 Jan | Hartlepool | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 2002/2003 | Sat 10 Aug | Carlisle | 1 - 3 | Hartlepool | LGE2 |
| 2001/2002 | Tue 19 Mar | Carlisle | 0 - 2 | Hartlepool | LGE2 |
| 2001/2002 | Sat 29 Sep | Hartlepool | 3 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 2000/2001 | Tue 13 Feb | Carlisle | 2 - 3 | Hartlepool | LGE2 |
| 2000/2001 | Sat 20 Jan | Hartlepool | 2 - 2 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
Hartlepool United are not in the best of form at home, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six matches at Victoria Park. The goals for column just outweighs the goals against over this period at nine to seven.
The Cumbrians have had a decent run of form away from home recently, coming away with three points on three occasions, but drawing one and losing two. The Blues have a narrow positive goal difference over these games with eight goals for and seven against.
Hartlepool's total of 13 points from their eight games played sees them sitting in the play-off places in Coca-Cola League One. 'Pools being in fifth at the moment one place behind Carlisle who have taken fourteen points from their eight games.
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 |
| Hartlepool | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 10 |
| Carlisle | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
A creditable return from recent away games for the Cumbrians could well see them head back from Victoria Park with a share of the spoils, think the FootyMad panel. Score draw
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Hartlepool | Failed to win in previous two home matches. |
| Carlisle | Five games since last away draw. |