Port Vale At Home For United In JPT

JPT

After receiving a bye in the first round, while Port Vale, thanks to a brace of goals from former Carlisle transfer target Marc Richards, defeated League One opposition in Rochdale 2-1 at home, United have once more got a home draw in a cup competition this season. The Blues playing at home to a side that they have faced only once in Associate Members Trophy action over the years.

That game coming in the 2001-02 season when the Blues lost 2-1 at Vale Park in the opening round. Carlisle having been 1-0 up at half-time in front of 2,664 spectators thanks to Richie Foran, only for the Valiants to turn things round after the break with Steve Brooker and then Ian Armstrong getting themselves on the home scoresheet.

In league and cup action at Brunton Park the two sides have faced each other 13 times, with Carlisle winning six and drawing five, while Port Vale have won only twice. The Blues having not lost at home to the Staffordshire outfit since as far back as 1958-59 in the old Division Four, while the other Valiants victory at Brunton Park came in Division Three North in 1929-30.

As for the Valiants this season, they are currently fourth in League Two on the back of two wins, a draw and a defeat so far, with both those victories having been picked up on the road though. While in the Carling Cup they shocked Championship leaders QPR with a 3-1 win at Loftus Park, only to then not enjoy their second trip to London in the tournament as they were thrashed 6-0 at Fulham last week.

Elsewhere in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, the draw for which was made on Sky Sports's Soccer AM this morning, the big guns of Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United face each other in the North-East section, while in the South, Milton Keynes Dons at home to Charlton is probably the standout tie, the draw in full being as follows :


North-East

Burton Albion v Rotherham United
Hartlepool United v Bradford City
Sheffield Wednesday v Chesterfield
Huddersfield Town v Peterborough United


North-West

Accrington Stanley v Stockport County
Macclesfield Town v Crewe Alexandra
Bury v Shrewsbury Town
Carlisle United v Port Vale


South-East

Colchester United v Wycombe Wanderers
Leyton Orient v Brentford
Milton Keynes Dons v Charlton Athletic
Barnet v Southend United


South-West

Bristol Rovers v Aldershot Town
Swindon Town v Torquay United
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle
Hereford United v Exeter City


Ties to be played in the week commencing Monday 4th October