MATCH PREVIEW: United host Cheltenham this weekend

Back to Brunton Park for the Blues

12 November 2020

The Robins are just one point behind United in the League Two table and come to Brunton Park fresh from a 3-1 home win over South Shields in the first round of the FA Cup.

bits

	Carlisle wins	Draws	Cheltenham wins
League	10	8	8
FA Cup	0	0	2
Total	10	8	10

That earned them another home tie in round two, where Crewe Alexandra will be the visitors to Whaddon Road.

They also beat Norwich City's under-21 side in the latest of their Papa John's Trophy round-robin fixtures during midweek, making it a successful return to winning ways with their last league outing having gone the way of hosts Oldham as they bagged a late winner at Boundary Park.

Prior to last season United had won the previous four meetings between these teams, but this weekend's visitors drew blood on both occasions last term.

update

Last week brought a real injury blow when Hull loanee Elliott Bonds was ruled out for the remainder of the season when he confirmed via social media that he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

But there was better news on Tuesday when manager Michael Duff was nominated for the Sky Bet League Two manager of the month award for October, with his team having picked up five wins and five clean sheets during that four-week spell.

Current league form has been patchy, despite that impressive run of results, with two defeats from the last three games adding a few stutters to what had been an otherwise smooth period.

There'll be a decision to make between the sticks with West Brom loanee Josh Griffiths out on international duty with England, so it could be a first start in 10 months for Scott Flinders, who has been sidelined through injury. Max Harris is also waiting in the wings.

who watch

The goals have been spread around as the back line has stood strong, and it's no accident that a combination of resolute defending and the ability to snatch goals at key moments has put the Robins in a good position at this early stage of the season.

Alfie May has received a lot of positive comments for his efforts, but we've gone with Andy Williams, who has bagged five goals in his 13 appearances so far. He leads the stats in terms of shots taken for his team, and he can be a thorn in the side if he's given the time and space.

And we know all about Reuben Reid, of course. Is it just me ... or does he seem to score every time he plays against us?

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highlights

The 2019/20 season bragging rights went the way of Cheltenham, as they headed north just before the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown was imposed to register a one-goal victory courtesy of a first-half strike from Reuben Reid.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The Blues were at Whaddon Road earlier in that campaign, in August 2019, when a certain Mr Gavin Reilly set the home side on the road to victory with an early goal. Luke Varney doubled the lead on the stroke of half time, and that's how it stayed.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Carlisle United 2 - 0 Cheltenham Town, Saturday 19 January 2019

Cheltenham Town 0 - 1 Carlisle United, Saturday 18 August 2018

officials

Referee - Andy Haines
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Cunliffe
Assistant Referee 2 - Matthew Parry
Fourth Official - Samuel Barrott

Andy Haines Mr Haines has taken charge of 10 games so far this season showing 28 yellow cards and one red.

With one of those quirks that seem to happen in football, the last time we met Andy was for the visit of Cheltenham in that pre-lockdown game in February 2020 (highlights from the game are above). Gethin Jones was the only Carlisle name taken on the day.

He was last at Brunton Park prior to that for our 1-0 home victory over FA Cup replay with Forest Green in December 2019. Aaron Hayden scored his first goal for the club - the only goal of the game - and Ryan Loft went in the book on the night.

He was also here for the 2-1 home win over Macclesfield in November 2019. Harry McKirdy and Ryan Loft scored the Carlisle goals and Mike Jones and Canice Carroll had their names taken on the day.

Prior to that he was here in March 2019 for our 2-2 draw with Cambridge. The U's went ahead with just three minutes on the clock, but goals from Jamie Devitt and Nathan Thomas gave the Blues the lead before the break. Former-United favourite Jabo Ibehre bagged midway through the second period to make it a share of the spoils on the day. Danny Grainger and Mike Jones received bookings during the game.

He was also with us just three months earlier for our Boxing Day meeting with Oldham. United ran riot with goals from Hope, Yates [2], Nadesan, Grainger and Liddle securing a thumping 6-0 victory. Kelvin Etuhu was the only Carlisle name taken on the night.

Earlier in the 2018/19 season he was up here for our Checkatrade Trophy group fixture against Morecambe. A tight game saw the Shrimps twice take the lead through goals from Oliver and Piggott. Glendon and Gillesphey pegged them back for the Blues, and that set it up for Jerry Yates to grab a late winner. There were no United names taken on the night.

We saw Mr Haines twice in season 2017/18, both at Brunton Park, starting with our opening day fixture against Swindon Town. Luke Joyce scored our only goal in a 2-1 defeat, and Mike Jones was the only Carlisle name to be written down.

Our second meeting had a much more pleasant outcome as we beat Oldham Athletic 3-2 in the FA Cup. Richie Bennett (2) and Hallam Hope gave us a three goal cushion but there was still time to bite the fingernails as Peter Clarke and Aaron Holloway bit back to make it a nervy ending to the game. There were no Carlisle bookings that afternoon.

tickets

This is a behind closed doors fixture.

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Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: United 1 - 2 Robins

Report from the Saturday afternoon home game

14 November 2020

Two of the division's form sides came together at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon as Cheltenham made the trip up the M5/M6 corridor.

United were unbeaten at their own base in the league and were looking to become the first League Two team since Wycombe Wanderers in 2006 to win their first six consecutive home league fixtures.

With Josh Kayode away on intenational duty with Ireland it meant one change to the starting eleven from the Newport game, with Omari Patrick drafted in.

It was an end-to-end start to the game with the Robins immediately on the front-foot with a long throw from Tozer. Hayden was up to meet it as Chapman lurked.

The resulting corner was well dealt with at the front stick, but May had waited deep and he volleyed instinctively as it came his way. McDonald stood tall to make the block.

Up at the Waterworks End and a run of corners came United's way as the visitors struggled to deal with the Guy deliveries. Raglan got in the way at the back post and he had his heart in his mouth as Mellish looked to finish it off. The ball wouldn't quite settle and the clearance was made.

A cross on the run from May had Williams interested for Cheltenham as he angled a sprint into the box, but he couldn't get there and Farman watched it behind.

The visitors had a good spell, but they were almost undone when a corner came to nothing and the Blues broke in numbers. Tanner clipped a deft pass for Patrick to chase but Blair lunged in to make a vital tackle.

Reilly then had an effort stopped at source as Carlisle stayed forward, but they were rocked on the quarter hour when a long throw from Tozer was met on the jump by Will Boyle. His close-range header had venom and it arrowed into the back of the net.

The game settled into a pattern as the visitors protected their lead, but United weren't too far away when Guy popped another good delivery into the mix. Hayden and McDonald moved to get a touch but Raglan marshalled it away.

Another good period followed for the Blues and Reilly put Flinders under pressure when a long ball forward from Farman skipped off the surface. The clearance had to be rushed, and Alessandra took charge of the long throw that followed. A scuff from Hussey allowed Patrick to shoot, but it rose quickly and it flew over the target.

But disaster struck at the home end when an inswinging set piece delivery caused problems. Mellish appeared to be barged off the ball but there were suddenly loud appeals for a penalty when Ben Tozer fell to the ground. The referee pointed at the spot and Conor Thomas sent Farman the wrong way as he found the back of the net from 12-yards.

United looked to rally straight away with crosses pinging into the box fron left and right. And they got the reward for their endeavours deep into time added for the first period when Patrick pulled wide. He spotted the run from the predatory Jon Mellish, and the midfielder made it 11 goals in 11 games with the neatest of finishes.

The Cumbrians came out of the second half blocks at pace and Guy kept the back four busy with more teasing crosses and passes. He used Tanner as a bounce board to mount a right wing attack and his outswinging clip was begging to be put away.

A cushioned trap on the chest from Patrick then brought Riley into play, and he lost his marker with a clever twist and turn. His shot took a deflection and Flinders stooped low to gather.

There was still danger for the hosts and May reminded them of that when he found unexpected space. He thought he'd made it through but McDonald was there to block.

Farman had to push a dipper from the same player away moments later when a rasping drive threatened to creep below the bar.

Both sides kept looking for the next goal, and the ever-dangerous May tried his luck on the run as he angled in from the touchline. It was a decent connection but it whipped the wrong side of the upright.

Striker Omari Patrick put an instinctive attempt just past the angle of post and bar as United continued to probe, but the threat from the launched Tozer missiles refused to go away. Boyle will feel he should have scored when a Raglan flick from one such throw landed at his boot just a yard out. He somehow conspired to send it high.

It became very tight through the closing stages but the Cumbrians should have pulled level as the clock ticked down. A half clearance from a Guy cross eventually came to Anderton, and his miscued effort bobbled through legs to find Reilly. He suddenly had just Flinders to beat, but the keeper spread himself to make a fantastic point-blank save.

That was it for chances as the Robins saw the game out to bring an end to United's impressive home run.

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Goals

Carlisle United - Mellish (45)

Cheltenham Town - Boyle (15), Thomas (36 pen)

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Teams

Carlisle United - Farman, Tanner, Hayden, McDonald, Anderton (c), Riley (Obiero 74), Guy, Mellish, Alessandra (Bennett 84), Reilly, Patrick. Subs - Dewhurst (gk), Devine, Hunt, Charters, Malley.

Cheltenham Town - Flinders, Hussey, Tozer (c), Raglan, Thomas, May (Lloyd 84), Blair, Williams, Boyle, Sercombe, Chapman. Subs - Harris (gk), Clements, Reid, Addai, Freestone, Sang.

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Match officials

Referee - Andy Haines
Assistant Referee 1 - Mark Cunliffe
Assistant Referee 2 - Matthew Parry
Fourth Official - Samuel Barrott

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Attendance - BCD