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By the time Carlisle were the 21st club out of the fish bowl nearly all of the big guns had gone, Tottenham and Aston Villa being the only teams really a better prospect than Portsmouth. It's a long time too since we last faced Pompey, our last clash being in our final game at second tier level, the Blues losing 1-0 at home to the Fratton Park club on the Sunday before Christmas in the "infamous Jim Tolmie" relegation season of 1985-86.
That was a rare defeat for United at home to Portsmouth though, the Cumbrians only having lost one other time at Brunton Park against the south coast side. Carlisle having beaten Pompey nine times in 16 matches, with the other five games finishing all-square. United amassing a bumper 29 goals in those matches while conceding 11.
The teams have never met in the cup before though, all the games between the two sides at both grounds coming in either the second or third tier. Now there are two divisions behind the clubs it promises to be a much tougher ask for the Blues in a few weeks, although what strength of side Portsmouth will bring up for the tie remains to be seen.
Carling Cup Third Round draw in full
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea v Queens Park Rangers
Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United
Barnsley v Burnley
Hull City v Everton
Leeds United v Liverpool
Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City v Fulham
Sunderland v Birmingham City
Peterborough United v Newcastle United
Carlisle United v Portsmouth
Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers
Stoke City v Blackpool
Scunthorpe United v Port Vale
Preston North End v Tottenham Hotspur
Aston Villa v Cardiff City
Ties to be played week commencing Monday 21st September