Hartlepool United v CARLISLE UNITED
Victoria Park
Sat 28 January 2012 - 3pm kick-off
United make one of their shortest away trips of the season tomorrow as they travel across to the north east to face Hartlepool United at Victoria Park in npower League One.
The Blues go into the game in good form and seek to make it ten games unbeaten in the league and potentially draw themselves level with sixth place Stevenage in the fight for the final play-off position.
Manager Greg Abbott will be hoping his side can take advantage of the fact that many of the sides around them are in FA Cup action this weekend and keep in touch with the push for a top six finish at the end of the campaign.
This weekend's opponents Hartlepool United were the last side to beat the Blues at home this season, way back on 10 September 2011 but since then have seen their form dip off dramatically, with results eventually leading to the departure of boss Mick Wadsworth.
After a brief caretaker spell from coach Mickey Barron, Pools made a surprise appointment by bringing Neale Cooper back to Victoria Park, almost seven years after he originally left the club to take over at Gillingham.
Although his first game back in charge ended in a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United, Cooper has led the club to a win and two draws in their last three games, including an impressive point at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
Cooper will want lead his side to a double over the Cumbrians after their 2-1 win at Brunton Park back in September. Abbott on the other hand, will be hoping his side can repeat their performance at Victoria Park last season, when Gary Madine's hat-trick and a Lubomir Michalik wonder strike secured a 4-0 win.
United boss Greg Abbott will include new loan signing Ben Parker in the matchday squad after he signed from Championship side Leeds United until the end of February.
Parker will want to make his debut at left-back with former Pools player Matty Robson looking likely to miss out again with a back injury, though Chris Chantler could keep his starting place after making his debut in the 1-1 draw with Walsall last weekend.
Midfielder James Berrett misses out as he starts a two-game ban for picking up ten yellow cards this season, while defender Peter Murphy is working hard to recover from a back injury after missing the Saddlers game.
Craig Curran is continuing his recovery from a knee injury picked up before Christmas, while midfielder Ben Mckenna and defender Steve Swinglehurst are both on-loan to Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic until the end of the season.
Hartlepool United have no new injuries going into the game and manager Neale Cooper could include Colin Nish among the substitutes after he came through 90 minutes of a midweek reserve team victory over Gateshead.
Forward James Poole looks likely to miss out again with a hamstring injury that has kept him on the sidelines since the Boxing Day win at Oldham Athletic.
Referee - Robert Madley
Assistants - Michael Denton and Darren England
Fourth Official - Christopher Akers
Mr Madley last took charge of a United game in March last year when Bournemouth made the long journey up to Brunton Park in npower League One. That game ended in a 1-0 win for the Blues, thanks to Peter Murphy's first-half goal.
Six players were booked that afternoon, with Shaun Cooper and Anton Robinson cautioned for the Cherries and Matty Robson, Lubomir Michalik, James Berrett and Francois Zoko all given yellow cards for United.
Record This Season
Games - 23
Yellow Cards - 47
Red Cards - 2
This game is ALL-TICKET and fans will not be able to pay on the day of the game. Tickets are available to buy in person up until 5pm today (Friday 27 Jan) - more details can be found by clicking HERE.
If you can't make it down to the game then there are a number of ways you can follow the action.
BBC Radio Cumbria will once again be providing commentary for all first-team fixtures this season. You can listen to all the build-up from 2pm onwards and then full match commentary from 3pm on 95.2, 95.6, 96.1, 104.1 and 104.2 FM.
For those living outside of Cumbria, commentary is available on United Player. There will also be video reaction after the game on Player and highlights. For more details on how you can sign up for United Player, click here.
You can watch goals and highlights from all three divisions on the Football League Show - this week the show will be broadcast on BBC1 at 11-55pm on Saturday evening.
Coral Bet are the official online betting partner of the Football League and every bet you make with them helps the club earn more revenue.
The latest odds for the result on 90 minutes are as follows:
Hartlepool - 7/4
CUFC - 6/4
Draw - 23/10
A few selected first goal scorer bets are list below:
Francois Zoko (CUFC) - 6/1
Liam Noble (CUFC) - 14/1
Danny Livesey (CUFC) - 33/1
Anthony Sweeney (Hartlepool) - 10/1
Remember though - the club will only benefit if you access the Coral site through the links here on the official website. So click HERE and sign up today.
Terms & Conditions: Applicants must be at least 18 years old to open a Coral account. Carlisle United Football Club supports responsible gambling. Contact www.gamcare.org.uk for further information.
