After success on the road at the weekend, it’s back to home comforts for United as Wycombe Wanderers visit Cumbria in a Sky Bet League Two clash.
Jamie Devitt’s second half strike handed the Blues victory at Colchester on Saturday, and Keith Curle’s side will be keen to string together back-to-back wins.
Standing in their way, however, are an impressive Wycombe side who are flying-high at the moment.
We put Wycombe under the spotlight ahead of their visit to Brunton Park:
Pushing for Promotion
Having regularly finished in the top half of League Two for the last few seasons, many tipped Gareth Ainsworth’s men for success this season after the former QPR man kept most of last season’s squad intact while adding some real quality.
And they have started brightly, with Wanderers currently sitting fifth in the league having lost only twice all season.
Indeed, Wycombe have lost only one of their last nine league outings - and that was to promotion rivals Luton Town.
A draw against Exeter at the weekend kept Wanderers in the thick of it at the top of League Two, and Ainsworth will be hoping his side will be in a similar position come May.
Goals, Goals, Goals
A key to Wycombe’s success this season has been their prolific nature in front of goal - Ainsworth’s side have netted 25 goals so far this season, with only Luton (30) scoring more.
In their last four games alone, Wycombe have netted nine and are currently averaging just shy of two goals per game across the league season.
With a range of attacking talent at their disposal - including Paris Cowan-Hall, Scott Kashket, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Eberechi Eze - it’s perhaps no surprise that Wanderers have had such striking success so far.
What Does History Tell Us?
Carlisle and Wycombe only met for the first time in 1993, but have gone on to become regular foes over recent years.
And it’s Wycombe who have had the best of the 20 meetings between the two sides having claimed seven victories compared to Carlisle’s five.
A draw is the most popular result between the two, with eight games seeing the points shared.
Recent form has been slightly more favourable towards the Cumbrians, who are unbeaten in the last four meetings with the Wanderers having claimed victory in both league meetings last season.
Watch highlights of last season's February away win at Wycombe here:
Watch highlights of last season's September home win here:
There’s Usually Goals
Only two of the eight draws between these two sides have been goalless, and the fixture does tend to produce plenty of goals.
Carlisle have stuck four past the Wanderers on two occasions, with Wycombe returning the favour once in 1996.
With an average of 2.6 goals per game between these two sides, could we be set for similar attacking entertainment on Tuesday evening?
Ones to Watch
+ Anthony Stewart - A product of Wanderers’ youth team, the powerful centre back was handed his first professional contract in 2011 but after helping guide the club to survival in 2014 he left for Crewe. He then returned to Adams Park a year later and has been a first team regular ever since - earning a contract extension at the end of last season. Strong, quick and good in the air, Stewart has built up a strong partnership with Adam El-Abd so far this season.
+ Luke O’Nien - Formerly of Watford, O’Nien joined Wycombe after a successful trial at the club in 2015. In his first season at the club he scooped the Young Player of the Year award and has continued to go from strength to strength. A box-to-box midfielder, O’Nien chips in with plenty of goals and assists and has found the net twice already this season.
+ Eberechi Eze - 19-year-old Eze joined the Wanderers on loan from QPR during the summer transfer window and has made a positive early impression at Adams Park, with his pace, power and raw ability quickly endearing him to the fans. He netted twice in the 3-1 win over Cambridge a fortnight ago and has been a regular since his loan switch. He’s one to watch carefully at Brunton Park.
