A blistering Saturday performance takes the Blues into their Tuesday night fixture against Mansfield Town on the crest of a wave.
Eight home wins from nine home league games is one heck of an exciting run, and the Cumbrians could make it four wins in a row if they get things right in this one.
On to the visitors, and the FA Cup third round draw could have been kinder after the Stags had been made to battle hard to see off the challenge of Dagenham & Redbridge in round two.
An extra time winner brought the anticipation of what might be with the big boys in the hat, but it's Cheltenham and Whaddon Road and the need to do it all again for the chance to perhaps pull one of the more glamorous outfits.
Despite a less than healthy looking current league position, Tuesday night's visitors have actually been extremely difficult to beat, with just five league losses against their name.
Turning draws into wins has been the issue, with just two victories balanced against 10 stalemates along the way.
Saturday was another example of that as they came away from Grimsby with another 1-1 share of the spoils.
Graham Coughlan was relieved of his duties at the end of October as the Stags struggled to find their feet at the start of the new campaign, and the experienced Nigel Clough was appointed a week later, bringing an almost immediate upturn in fortunes.
Always tipped to trouble the play-off places, it's widely expected that they will soon begin their march towards the top seven spots.
Keep an eye on the warm-up as former strength and conditioning coach Dave Waldie, now with Mansfield, takes on his match night duties.
Striker Andy Cook came through the youth ranks here at Brunton Park and he has a habit of scoring goals wherever he goes. He'll want to make an impact if he's involved.
But we can't ever really look any further than Nicky Maynard. A mobile, experienced and potent forward he's backed up up by some very good attack-minded team mates in all areas of the pitch.
It feels like he always scores against us - hopefully that comment has put a jinx on that!
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A visit to Mansfield was on the cards just ahead of the Covid lockdown in February 2020. It turned into an exciting encounter as Nicky Maynard put the home side two goals to the good. Elliot Watt and Josh Kayode struck back late in the day to earn the Blues a hard-earned draw.
These teams met at the start of the 2019/20 season when the Stags came north to Brunton Park. It was a game where United struggled to get going and they were undone early in the game by a deep cross to the back post. Danny Rose arrived late to smash it into the net. The advantage was doubled on the stroke of half time, and that's how it stayed as the visitors went away with a 2-0 victory.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
Carlisle United 3 - 2 Mansfield Town - Saturday 5 January 2019
Mansfield Town 1 - 0 Carlisle United - Saturday 1 September 2018
Referee - Peter Wright
Assistant Referee 1 - Barry Gordon
Assistant Referee 2 - Chris Isherwood
Fourth Official - Andy Haines
Our official for this fixture is Mr Peter Wright.
Mr Wright has taken charge of 14 games so far this season and has shown 48 yellow cards and one red.
We last saw Peter at the beginning of the 2020/21 season when he was the man in the middle for our trip to Glanford Park. A first half goal sunk the Blues, but there were no Carlisle names taken on the day.
He was also the referee just before the lockdown when we hosted Morecambe at Brunton Park. Cole Stockton and Aaron Wildig gave the visitors a two-goal lead, Omari Patrick struck back in time added on for the first half to get the Blues back into the game. Aaron Hayden completed the comeback midway through the second period. There were four yellows on the day, with Byron Webster, Elliot Watt and Nick Anderton going in the book for the hosts.
Prior to that we met up with him back in August 2019 when he was the man in the middle for our Carabao Cup game against Rochdale. Goals from Morley and Done in the first half left the Blues with a big job, but we lost 2-1 despite a decent spot kick finish from Jack Bridge. There were no Carlisle names taken on the night.
He made the step up from the national league for the 2018/19 season and we met him for the first time when he officiated our 1-0 away victory over Cheltenham in August 2018. Richie Bennett bagged the only goal of the game, just before the break, and Anthony Gerrard and Kelvin Etuhu had their names taken on the day.
His first visit to Brunton Park was for our 3-2 home defeat against MK Dons in March 2019. Stefan Scougall and Hallam Hope scored for the Blues and there were no Carlisle players booked that afternoon.
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