If United avoid defeat, they will equal the club record for unbeaten league games at the start of a season, set by Clive Middlemass's 1989-90 team in the old Division Four. There's no doubt the Shots will provide a testing examination of United's early season credentials. They hammered Dag & Red 4-0 at home in their last home fixture although a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Hereford in midweek dropped them out of second place. Shots boss Terry Brown does not believe his side have played to their potential so far and he may have a point. The Southerners struggled to see off Northwich Vics in their previous home game before they scrambled a 3-3 draw at Leigh RMI the following week with the help of two injury time goals. Like United, last season's play off finalists will probably feel the best is yet to come. Paul Simpson will be hoping that won't happen tomorrow. Brown was delighted with the display against the dithering Daggers, who have now gone six games without a win. "We were magnificent," he said. "Going forward we were fantastic and we could have scored ten. Against Carlisle we will have to be a bit more cautious. Their front two are lively and make runs. All over the side they've got a lot of quality and if you allow them to play football they'll punish you." One player missing for the home team will be Steve Watson, who is suspended. Brown has choices up front where Roscoe D'Sane, Will Antwi and Matthew Barnes-Homer all have claims for a starting spot. Goalkeeper Nikki Bull will play on with a fractured finger, so United may attempt to test him with some long range shots early on. Simpson was delighted himself with the way United battled their way to victories in two hard-fought games in the past week. While Tamworth came for a point and had to be broken down, Scarborough showed a bit of attacking intent and tried to hit United on the break in a very open, attacking game on Tuesday night. Simpson has to decide whether to incorporate Tuesday's goal hero Kevin Henderson in a three-man attacking line-up or keep the 4-4-2 he's started with in the last three games. Magno Vieira is likely to start whatever system is used and the slightly more watchful 4-4-2 is the likely outcome. United will want to pay a lot of respect to Aldershot's attack after they smashed four goals past Dagenham last weekend. On the injury front Simpson himself, Andy Preece and Carlos Roca are all still on the sidelines so there will be no major personnel changes, although the off-form Brendan McGill may just lose his place to the more defensive-minded Paul Arnison on the right flank. This will prove a major test of Carlisle's promotion potential and if they emerge with anything other than a defeat, I think there will be more than just quiet satisfaction on the long journey home. Prediction: Aldershot 0-0 UNITED |
