|
For Rovers, this is almost a local game despite the two and a half hour journey up to the North of England. But with games such as Gillingham and Yeovil gone and Southend to come in the next few weeks, this is a short journey for the team and fans to make.
Carlisle Team Profile:
Formed: 1904
Ground:
Manager: Greg Abbott (Caretaker Manager)
Nickname: The Blues
Season Finish 2006/07: 8th (Coca-Cola League One)
Previous Meetings:
Last season Carlisle did the double over Tranmere in Coca-Cola League One thanks to a 1-0 win at Brunton Park, followed by a 2-0 win over Tranmere at Prenton Park.
A poor performance at Brunton Park on October 21st from Tranmere pretty much handed Carlisle the win as the Blue's won 1-0.
The goal was scored in the 35-minutes, as Kevin Gall was allowed to run un-challenged across the Tranmere box, much like Marcus Stewarts goal for Yeovil against Tranmere last weekend, before breaking into the box and firing low past Gavin Ward and into the net.
At Prenton Park on 30th March, Tranmere were again poor as their opposition completed the double over them for the season.
The Blue's took the lead on ten-minutes as Joe Garner's low cross was converted from six-yards by on-loan Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham before Gall got his second goal of the season against Tranmere for Carlisle on the other side of half time, netting past Ward after the goalkeeper had already saved Graham's initial shot.
Vital Stats:
In 32 trops to Carlisle, Tranmere have won just seven times
In League meetings, Tranmere and Carlisle have never met outside the bottom two league divisions
Rovers haven't scored in their last three matches against Carlisle, this after winning the game before this run 6-1 against the same opposition
32 meetings at Carlisle have served up a total of 98 goals from the two sides
In a total of 68 matches between the two sides, at all venues, Rovers have scored 118 goals
On This Day:
2006: A late John Mullin goal secures Tranmere a 1-0 win at home to Bristol City
2001: Tranmere lose 4-0 away to Brentford in League One
1962: Tranmere hammer Hartlepools United 6-1 in Division 4
The Form Book:
Carlisle First 6 Games: WLWWWD
Tranmere First 6 Games: LDWWLL
Despite their excellent start to the season, Carlisle have had yet more off the field problems this season after Neil McDonald was sacked on the third day of the new season due to differences of opinion in the board room.
McDonald's only game in charge saw Carlisle draw 1-1 at Walsall, not a bad result by all accounts against a team playing their first game since being promoted back to League One. However, sacked he was and he was replaced by caretaker manager Greg Abbott who will certainlly be looking to land the job on a permanent basis after his start to the season.
Abbott's first game in charge saw the club win 1-0 at Bury in the Carling Cup First Round as the Blue's went on a run of three consecutive wins. Next up they defeated Oldham Athletic 1-0 at Brunton Park before earning themselves a good 2-0 win at the Galpharm Stadium against Huddersfield Town.
The run of wins came to an end at the hands of Coventry City in the Carling Cup Second Round however, as the Skyblue's defeated the Blue's 2-0 at the Ricoh Arena thanks to two well taken goals from Misfud.
However, there was a return to form last weekend for the Northerners as Abbott's side defeated Cheltenham Town 1-0 at Brunton Park thanks to a winner from Livesey which came almost as late as Steve Davies' equaliser for Tranmere against Yeovil.
Carlisle recieved a bye in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round so they are yet to compete in this competition.
In four league games so far, Carlisle have conceeded just one goal and lie joint top of the table, second only to Leyton Orient on goal difference with 10 points.
For Tranmere it has been an indifferent start to the season, with good results in the league spoilt some what by poor defeats to lower league opposition in the cup competitions.
In the First Round of the League Cup Rovers were defeated 1-0 by Stockport County despite having the best chance of the game whilst this week Rovers lost by the same scoreline to League Two side Morecambe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy First Round.
However, Tranmere have picked up seven points from the 12 available in the league and that is why they currently lie fifth place in the league.
On the opening day of the season Tranmere lost 2-1 at home to Leeds United despite leading 1-0 through a Chris Greenacre, but they have bounced back from this with a run of three unbeaten league games on the spin.
Firstly, Tranmere travelled to Gillingham and won 2-0 at the Priestfield Stadium thanks to goal from Greenacre and Davies before they defeat Brighton and Hove Albion by the same scoreline at Prenton Park seven days later, Greenacre again on the score sheet, this time along side Chris Shuker.
A week later, Tranmere picked up their first draw of the campaign as a 96th minute free-kick from Steve Davies earned Ronnie Moore's side a 1-1 draw in Somerset against Yeovil Town after Marcus Stewart had given the Glovers the lead.
Double Hit:
One man who had brief spells at both Carlisle and Tranmere is Polish defender Dariusz Kubicki who started his career at Legia Warsaw in 1990.
Come 1991 the talented full-back had earnt himself a move to England, as Aston Villa bought him for a fee of £200,000.
Kubicki made 34 appearances for the Villiains between 1991 and 1994 and also spent time on loan at Sunderland before making the move permanent on a free transfer on 14th July 1994.
At Sunderland, Kubicki made 135 appearances, again without scoring, before moving to Wolves for free in August 1997.
The Pole spent one year at Wolves and made 17 appearances for the Midlands side and during his time with the club he spent the final few months of the 1997/98 season on loan with Tranmere under John Aldridge and made 13 appearances for the club.
In August 1998 he moved to Carlisle on a rolling month to month contract and during his two months with the club, Kubicki made seven appearances for the club before joining Darlington in October 1998. He spent two more months in English football, making just four mor appearances before leaving the English game, aged 34.
One To Watch: Danny Graham
Striker Danny Graham has been a big success at Carlisle this season after moving to the club on a permanent basis after he spent part of last on loan at Brunton Park.
The 5'11 striker started his career at his hometown club Middlesbrough where he came through the ranks as a junior and made 21 appearances for Boro between 2003 and 2007, scoring on two occassions but only starting twice for the club.
During his time at Boro, Graham also spent time on loan with five different clubs, including his current club Carlisle.
In the 2003-04 season Graham spent three months on loan at Darlington, scoring twice in nine appearances and in the 2005-06 season the 21-year old spent four months on-loan at Derby and played 14 times without scoring.
Brief spells on loan at Leeds and Blackpool saw him score one goal (for the Tangarines) in a total of seven appearances before he moved on loan to Carlisle in January 2007.
At Carlisle, Graham scored a very impressive seven goals in eleven games before returning to Middlesbrough and after his contract at the Riverside Stadium expired in June 07, Graham signed for Carlisle on a free-transfer.
Having now played four games for Carlisle as one of their permanent players, the Blues' number nine has scored one goal in six appearances and is looking hot to handle in League One this season.
Team News:
Ronnie Moore has already expressed a number of injury worries for this fixture, stating that he expects Calvin Zola to miss the game with a hamstring injury whilst Gareth Taylor will also miss out with a broken rib. Paul McLaren, John Mullin and Chris Shuker are just some of the other players who are doubtful for the game. Some good news for Ronnie Moore however is that Danny Coyne can play in goal unless Wales suffer an injury on the goalkeeping front before Saturday's game. Anthony Kay could start in place of either Ben Chorley or Robbie Stockdale.
Jones' Prediction: Carlisle 1-1 Tranmere Rovers