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United travel to Nottinghamshire to take on Forest at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon, looking to break their duck against the hosts. Four out of the only five meetings between the two sides by the River Trent over the years having ended up in defeat for the Cumbrians, with a rotten goal difference of minus eleven over those matches, the last two games being 5-1 and 4-0 hammerings.
That 5-1 defeat came in the old Division Two in late September of the 1976-77 season, that campaign being United's second relegation season in three years as they slipped from the top of Division One to Division Three obscurity. The score was 1-1 at half-time, Carlisle's goal coming from Michael Barry in front of just 12,479 spectators at the City Ground, only for the Cumbrians to go home with their tail between their legs after shipping four further goals without reply in the second-half.
The only time the Blues haven't lost in their five outings by the River Trent was in the FA Cup Third Round, the first ever meeting between the two clubs, way back in the 1969-70 season. The match finishing in a 0-0 draw in front of 23,419 fans, Carlisle winning the replay 2-1 through goals from Thomas Murray and George McVitie, with 12,840 spectators in attendance at Brunton Park. Aldershot were the Blues victims in the next round as United won a replay, after an initial 2-2 draw, 4-1 at the Recreation Ground, that was where the cup dream ended though as the Cumbrians were knocked out in the fifth round 2-1 at home to Middlesbrough. Tot Winstanley netting the only goal of the game for Carlisle as a club record attendance of 27,500 fans packed out Brunton Park.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 1976/1977 | Sat 05 Mar | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | DIV2 |
| 1976/1977 | Sat 25 Sep | Nottingham Forest | 5 - 1 | Carlisle | DIV2 |
| 1975/1976 | Sat 06 Mar | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | DIV2 |
| 1975/1976 | Sat 01 Nov | Nottingham Forest | 4 - 0 | Carlisle | DIV2 |
| 1973/1974 | Sat 13 Apr | Carlisle | 2 - 1 | Nottingham Forest | DIV2 |
| 1973/1974 | Sat 17 Nov | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 0 | Carlisle | DIV2 |
| 1972/1973 | Sat 20 Jan | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | DIV2 |
Recent respective form guides
Forest have lost just once in their last six home games, winning four and drawing the other one, that reverse coming last time out against Oldham 2-0. A total of ten goals have been scored by the Tricky Trees in those games, four of them coming in a 4-0 demolition of Chesterfield, with five conceded.
United have an average recent record on the road, losing only one of the last six, but drawing four of them, the Blues having won only only once, 2-0 at Rochdale, in their last eight away games. The Cumbrians have a narrow positive goal difference over the last six away matches, with just four goals for but only three against.
Forest are leading the way in the League One table, with their eight games played giving them an excellent return of 19 points under new boss Colin Calderwood. The one-time European champions having taken over pole position from Port Vale on the 26th of August following a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town.
United's total of 13 points from their eight matches sees them sitting in the play-off places, in fifth spot, in the table. It's certainly a log jam at this time of the season though with only five points seperating fourth-placed Swansea City and Northampton Town, who currently occupy the last safe haven in 20th.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current home and away form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Nottingham Forest | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
| Carlisle | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 10 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
Carlisle only have an average recent record on the road, and this could be the reason why Nottingham Forest may poach a narrow victory, according to the Madmen. Home win
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Nottingham Forest | Five games since last home draw. |
| Carlisle | Drawn last two games on the road. Not won in previous five away matches. |