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The Blues prepare to welcome the Red Imps to Cumbria on Tuesday evening, and just hold the advantage on previous meetings between the two. Of the 34 games played the Cumbrians have recorded 16 wins, and Lincoln City have come away with 14 victories, with only four draws turning out as the final score.
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Brunton Park was two seasons ago in April 2004, as the play-off chasing visitors ran out cosy 2-0 winners in a Division Three match. That campaign was, of course, Carlisle's horrendous relegation season and that loss to City was the tenth home defeat in 22 games for United. On that day, in front of a bumper crowd of 7,875 the Blues held Lincoln to a 0-0 draw at half-time only for Peter Gain to put City 1-0 ahead in the 48th minute. Then, in an almost carbon-copy of the second Simon Hackney goal against Boston on Saturday, Mark Bailey fired into an empty net in injury time after Matty Glennon had come upfield for a Carlisle free-kick to seal the three points for the Red Imps.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2005/2006 | Mon 29 Aug | Lincoln | 0 - 0 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 2003/2004 | Sat 17 Apr | Carlisle | 0 - 2 | Lincoln | LGE2 |
| 2003/2004 | Sat 01 Nov | Lincoln | 2 - 0 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 2002/2003 | Tue 04 Feb | Carlisle | 1 - 4 | Lincoln | LGE2 |
| 2002/2003 | Sat 16 Nov | Carlisle | 2 - 1 | Lincoln | FAC |
| 2002/2003 | Sat 17 Aug | Lincoln | 0 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 2001/2002 | Sat 02 Mar | Lincoln | 3 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
Carlisle are unbeaten in their last six home games, winning five of them and doing everything but win the other one against Shrewbury Town in a 2-2 draw, and are unbeaten at Brunton Park since the 1-0 defeat to Wycombe in late November. In the last six matches United have rattled up an impressive 19 goals, and conceded only five.
Lincoln have a slightly better than average recent record on the road, collecting two wins and three draws from the last six games. The only defeat coming in their last match on the road, courtesy of a 2-1 derby defeat at Boston United. City have drawn more than half their away games, winning only four but losing just five of their 19 outings. The Red Imps have a narrow positive goal difference over those last six games, with ten goals for and nine against.
Carlisle are leading the way in the League Two table, with their 38 games giving them a return of 71 points. This is the Blues' game in hand on their rivals in the top five and a win would see them move six points clear at the top of the table and eight points away from the play-off spots, all-in-all a huge game for United that really could cement their title aspirations.
Lincoln's total of 56 points from their 38 games sees them sitting in the play-off places in the table, the Red Imps currently occupying a precarious seventh spot on goal difference from Peterborough United. Like United however, City have played one game less than some of their rivals, and will be going all out for a win to give themselves some breathing space in the play-off race.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Carlisle | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 15 |
| Lincoln | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 8 | 11 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
United may be coming up against a decent side in Lincoln City, but I do believe that it's going to result in a narrow home win for the Cumbrians. Home Win
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Carlisle | Won five league games on the bounce and haven't lost at home since late November. Unbeaten in last eight league games. |
| Lincoln | Not won in previous two away matches. Lost only once in last 14 league games |