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The Blues travel straight down the M6 tomorrow hoping to improve on their poor record in the West Midlands. United having a disappointing history of four wins, five draws and 15 defeats in their 24 games at Walsall over the years.
Last season in League One Carlisle lost 2-1 at the Banks's Stadium in late September. United striker Danny Graham having a 25th minute penalty saved before the Saddlers went 2-0 up through Dwayne Mattis just before the break and then Jabo Ibehre on 64 minutes. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's successfully converted 83rd minute spot-kick therefore proving to be no more than a consolation goal for the Cumbrians as 4,830 fans looked on.
Walsall's biggest win at home to Carlisle has twice been by a 5-0 scoreline, one of those victories coming in the first ever old Fourth Division season in 1958-59 as 10,085 fans looked on. The other victory coming in the Third Division North in 1932-33 in front of 5,637 spectators.
None of United's wins four away to the Saddlers have been by more than a one-goal margin. The last success coming in the Third Division (fourth tier) title-winning campaign of 1994-95. A brace of goals from David Reeves in a 2-1 win, as 3,610 spectators looked on, ensuring that Carlisle travelled home with all three points.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams | |||||
| 2008/2009 | Tue 10 Feb | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Walsall | LGE1 |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 27 Sep | Walsall | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 02 Feb | Carlisle | 2 - 1 | Walsall | LGE1 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 11 Aug | Walsall | 1 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 2003/2004 | Tue 12 Aug | Walsall | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | LGEC |
| 1997/1998 | Sat 14 Feb | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Walsall | LGE1 |
| 1997/1998 | Sat 04 Oct | Walsall | 3 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
Recent respective form guides
Walsall don't have the best of recent records at the Banks's Stadium, the Saddlers having won one, lost one and drawn four of their last six home games, an unentertaining six goals have been both scored and conceded in this period.
Carlisle meanwhile have a relatively good recent record on the road, collecting two wins and three draws from their last six matches away from Brunton Park. The Cumbrians have a narrow positive goal difference over these games, with nine goals for and eight against.
Walsall's 13 points gained from ten games played sees them lie inside the top half of the table, in 11th position. Carlisle on the other hand find themselves struggling down in 18th position in League One having picked up ten points from their ten matches contested to date.
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 |
| Walsall | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
| Carlisle | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
Neither team is setting the world alight, and the Footymad panel think this game will result in a narrow home win for the Saddlers. Home win
| Sequence statistics | |
| Walsall | Unbeaten in the last four home matches. |
| Carlisle | No win in the five most recent games. Not won in previous four away matches. |