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" It's a hard one because they were in the play-offs, I know that they lost two really key players, (Keiren) Westwood and the centre-forward (Joe Garner), they sold them for millions. They have only strengthened with free transfers, but they started the season brilliantly with four wins and a draw out of the first five. They were perched at the top and you think that they are going to be there or thereabouts again.
" Then what a terrible disappointing run it has been for them and their fans. They just can't seem to get a result, can't seem to get a goal, can't seem to get any confidence and that happens. The one thing you know though is that they have got a very good manager who is trying everything to get it turned around.
" They have got some good players, they have brought in some loans, but again they have struggled to score goals. Everybody would think that it is a game for us to go and win but I don't think that that is the case. They will be more desperate now to get a result, it will be a tough challenge for us, they will be strong, they will try to defend a lead and it will be difficult for us.
" I think that it is certainly a different turning point though to the game that we had here last time out. Where they came and they were champions and they were on back-to-back promotions. We were fighting for our survival and it was a very emotional day, I just hope that there is the same energy about this game, but I doubt that there will be.
" Our fans don't seem to be showing as much love and passion as they did that day, and they probably never will. Because the love that came out that day was incredible, and the emotion of that day. It is a tough time for Carlisle but I think that both teams have done really well to be in this division and to be competitive in this division, so it is going to be a tough game. "
Meanwhile County assistant manager Peter Ward commented to the Manchester Evening News :
"They (Carlisle) have had a few indifferent results, but I expect them to come down here and try to keep a clean sheet. It will be another difficult game for us and the fans are going to have to be patient and play their part.
"I think we've been lacking up front and we're still looking around. You ask about some people and you get ridiculous prices quoted at you and ridiculous wages that are out of our price range. To improve on these players we're going to have to get in a decent player because we've got some good ones here. But we'll keep searching, perhaps someone will be kind to us."
Unlike Carlisle Stockport have no injury worries tomorrow, both striker Matty McNeil and centre-half and skipper Michael Raynes having recovered from respective concussion and hamstring problems. The Hatters squad being further strengthened today by the signing, on loan for two months, of Oldham's 22-year old former Oxford United striker Craig Davies.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Andy Haines from Sunderland, and he will be assisted down the lines by Steven Cummins from Frodsham in Cheshire and Philip Dermott who is also from Cheshire. Meanwhile the fourth official is Danny Roberts from the Greater Manchester area.