Back-to-back league wins have seen the Blues climb into the top half of Sky Bet League Two and Keith Curle will be keen to see that good form continue.
The Cumbrians picked up a hard-earned 1-0 win at Grimsby the weekend, and will be hoping to pick up another three points when they make the visit to Luton on Tuesday evening.
But the high-flying Hatters will themselves be keen to build on some impressive results of late - including a thumping victory over Cambridge at the weekend.
We put Nathan Jones’ men under the spotlight ahead of our visit to Kenilworth Road:
Strong Start
Luton were tipped by many to be title contenders this season after narrowly missing out in the play-offs last season, and Jones’ side haven’t disappointed thus far.
They currently sit second in the division having lost just three league games all season, and are only two points behind table-toppers Notts County.
And their recent form has been nothing short of sensational - the Hatters have lost just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.
That certainly represents promotion form, and means United will need to be at their best to take anything from the trip south.
Division’s Top Scorers
Not only are Luton well and truly pushing for the title, but they also boast the best attacking record in the division having netted 43 goals in their 18 league games thus far.
Saturday’s 7-0 victory over Cambridge was their biggest winning margin of the season, and followed up a 7-1 triumph over Stevenage and an 8-2 demolition of Yeovil on the opening day.
Hatters’ striker Danny Hylton sits as the division’s joint top goal scorer with 11 goals to his name, while strike partner James Collins has chipped in with eight of his own.
What Does History Tell Us?
The two sides have met regularly in recent years - and it’s Luton who have the better of the meetings.
Of the 28 times the pair have faced off, the Mariners have claimed victory in 11 of them with Carlisle triumphant on only seven occasions.
Recent form is fairly mixed, with both games last season ending in draws and the two meetings in the 2015/16 season yielding one win each - including that sensational 4-3 comeback win for the Blues at Kenilworth Road.
Watch the highlights from last season's 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road here:
Watch the highlights from the thrilling 4-3 comeback here:
Not The Happiest Trip
While United’s last two trips to Kenilworth Road have seen points brought back to Cumbria, previous meetings weren’t such happy occasions.
Prior to the Blues’ win at Luton in 2015, they had gone over 40 years without a win in Bedforshire, with the last triumph a 1-0 win back in 1972.
Curle will be hoping his side don’t have to go so long without another victory on their travels south this time.
Ones to Watch
+ Scott Cuthbert - An experienced defender capable of playing at centre back or full-back, the former Leyton Orient man moved to Kenilworth Road in 2015 and quickly nailed down a place in the starting line-up. His impressive performances earned him the captain’s armband and he has already gone on to make nearing 100 appearances for the Hatters. He offers plenty of expertise in the lower leagues from his time at Swindon and Orient and is a reliable figure at the back.
+ Luke Berry - One of most sought-after names in the division, Luton captured the signing of the goal-scoring midfielder in the summer after he had impressed at divisional rivals Cambridge United. Berry netted 22 times for the U’s last season and has already bagged three for his new club since moving to Kenilworth Road. A threat from outside the area, and capable of providing both assists and goals, Berry will need to be watched carefully.
+ Danny Hylton - Sky Bet League Two’s joint top scorer so far, Hylton is a lively presence in and around the area and certainly knows how to find the back of the net. Formerly of Aldershot, Rotherham and Oxford, the striker offers experience aplenty and seems to keep improving year-on-year. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the division last season and is well on track to matching that this season.
