|
Games between Carlisle and Everton have been extremely rare historically over the years with the last game played between the two sides being in October 1975 in the third round of the League Cup. United losing 2-0 at Goodison Park in front of 20,010 spectators, Bob Latchford and Martin Dobson getting the goals that night for the Toffeemen.
The only other match at Goodison came the season before when United were in Division One, the Blues actually did the double over Everton that season and won the away fixture 3-2 as 33,489 fans looked on, Joe Laidlaw with a brace and Les O'Neill the United scorers. Laidlaw from the penalty spot, along with Dennis Martin and Frank Clarke doing the damage for the Cumbrians the afternoon they defeated Everton 3-0 at Brunton Park.
So, only five fixtures between the clubs historically, one in the League Cup, two in Division One, and then the other two at Brunton Park in the FA Cup many moons ago. The most recent a 2-0 defeat for United in the fourth round in February 1968, and the other being as far back as January 1930 at the third round stage, Carlisle losing 4-2 that day with Jimmy McConnell and Willie Watson the United scorers.
The Cumbrians did though play an FA Cup game at Goodison Park in November 1993, Carlisle defeating Knowsley United, a club that folded in 1997, 4-1 in the first round of the competition. That tie saw the Blues take around 4,500 fans to Merseyside to see Ian Arnold with a brace, Simon Davey and David Reeves get the Carlisle goals.
Elsewhere in this season's third round draw, if Leeds get past Kettering in their replay, which will probably be on the television, then they will more than likley be televised once more and for the 907th time this season, as they will make the trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United, and they say that cheats don't prosper.
If Kettering can cause a shock at Elland Road though then they will be the third non-league club to take a money spinning trip to a Premier League side, Oxford United or Barrow going to Sunderland while York visit Stoke. Forest Green and Staines, if they can get past Millwall in a replay haven't done so well though, Rovers getting a rotten draw at Notts County while Town could play Derby County at home.
Unsurprisingly though the Carlisle camp are more than happy with their tie at Everton, United all set to play their first third round FA Cup game since January 2001 when the Blues lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal. Carlisle manager Greg Abbott particularly pleased with a trip to Goodison Park as he commented after the draw to BBC Radio Cumbria :
"They are a side at the moment that if you are going to get a Premier League side that you think they are a big club and you have got a chance of winning, Everton is probably the one you plump for.
"Because they have had a bit of a rough time of it and when things are going against you the last thing you want is a tricky cup tie. Probably on paper this is a tricky cup tie for Everton and it is one where we are sure there will be a vast crowd which is financially fantastic for the club.
"But it is also one that you could look at it and think, gee, we have got a good chance of putting a bit of a upset in here. It is a possible banana skin so I just think it is possibly the perfect draw unless you get Manchester United or a Newcastle if you like."
FA Cup Third Round Draw In Full
Tottenham Hotspur v Peterborough United
Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Stoke City v York City
Notts County v Forest Green Rovers
Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion
Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers
Milton Keynes Dons v Burnley
Chelsea v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Preston North End v Colchester United
West Ham United v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth v Coventry City
Sunderland v Oxford United or Barrow
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Everton v Carlisle United
Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
Tranmere Rovers or Aldershot Town v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Fulham v Swindon Town
Stockport County or Torquay United v Brighton & Hove Albion
Scunthorpe United v Barnsley
Southampton v Rotherham United
Bristol City v Cardiff City
Reading v Liverpool
Staines Town or Millwall v Derby County
Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United
Leicester City v Swansea City
Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
Accrington Stanley v Gillingham
Manchester United v Kettering Town or Leeds United
Ties to be played over the weekend of 2/3 January