|
The Blues welcome the Magpies to Cumbria on Easter Monday afternoon in a rare league fixture between the two sides at Brunton Park. United and County couldn't be more evenly matched either having won four apiece of the nine games in Cumbria, also scoring eleven goals apiece in the process.
The last time the teams met in Carlisle was just over a decade ago, in October 1995, when they played out a goalless draw in a League Division Two (third tier of the system in those days) match, in front of a crowd of 6,058 spectators. That season, after the outstanding Championship success in the previous campaign, saw the Blues relegated five days after the season had finished when York City won 3-1 at Brighton. The original match had been abandoned after home supporters at the Goldstone Ground had invaded the pitch in protest at, then chairman, Bill Archer selling the stadium without finding a replacement place for the Seagulls to play. Brighton gave United fans false hope as they took the lead in the replayed game in the first-half only for the Minstermen to score three unanswered goals after the break to save their own skin and condemn the Blues to the drop.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2005/2006 | Sat 22 Oct | Notts County | 0 - 0 | Carlisle | LGE2 |
| 1995/1996 | Sat 30 Mar | Notts County | 3 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 1995/1996 | Sat 07 Oct | Carlisle | 0 - 0 | Notts County | LGE1 |
| 1986/1987 | Sun 26 Apr | Notts County | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 1986/1987 | Sun 21 Dec | Carlisle | 0 - 2 | Notts County | LGE1 |
| 1986/1987 | Tue 18 Nov | Carlisle | 0 - 3 | Notts County | FAC |
| 1986/1987 | Sat 15 Nov | Notts County | 1 - 1 | Carlisle | FAC |
Recent respective form guides
Carlisle are unbeaten in their last six home games, winning five, and drawing the other one. These high-scoring games have yielded a total of 15 goals for the Cumbrians, with just five against. Goals have dried up a little bit for the Blues as of late though, with United notching just four, at one a game, in their last four outings, home and away.
Notts County have an average recent record on the road, winning two of the last six, although they have lost the other four. The Magpies have scored six goals in these games, but have only conceded eight, which isn't too bad a defensive effort away from home. County have only won one of their last 13 games though, that being a 2-1 win away to Bristol Rovers, who United drew 1-1 with at the Memorial Stadium yesterday.
Carlisle are leading the way in the League Two table, with their 41 games giving them a return of 78 points. The Blues needing just five points for automatic promotion, or eight to claim the title, from their last five matches, of which none are against teams in the top half. Chickens can't be counted yet though and there is still a long way to go before we can start thinking about cracking open the champagne.
Notts County find themselves struggling down in 17th position in the league having picked up 50 points from their 42 matches. They have been on a poor run of late though, having claimed only seven points from the last 39 available. The Magpies fans will still be looking over their shoulder a little as well now they are only five points clear of the drop-zone, although one win from their last five games will surely be enough to see them retain their league status.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current league form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Carlisle | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 16 |
| Notts County | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
It's good news for United fans, because, with them being in such great nick at Brunton Park, I just cannot see any further than an emphatic home win for the Cumbrians. Home win
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Carlisle | Unbeaten at home in last 13 games. Won last five home matches. |
| Notts County | Lost four of last five away games. Only one win in last 13 games. |