Carlisle United Football Club

High-flying Exeter are the visitors to Brunton Park this weekend.

Match Sponsor - Bayley Family Gathering

We hope you all have a great day!

Match Ball Sponsor - McCalls Bakers

Click HERE for more information on McCalls Bakers.

Match Ball Delivery System - Ascott Transport Ltd

Click HERE to visit the ATL official website.

These two sides have had some great meetings in recent seasons, with Tuesday and Thursday night camel treks for both clubs thrown in along the way for good measure.

Exeter hold the bragging rights in terms of league wins, with 28 to United's 20, but the Blues have been known to be stubborn on their away trips to St James Park.

Exeter are currently in second spot courtesy of a mean defence and a knack of bagging vital goals at key moments.

Those two ingredients have seen them lose just six league games all season and, in fact, they've lost just two of their League Two games in 2022 - away at Sutton on New Year's Day and away to Mansfield at the beginning of last month.

That current unbeaten spell is at seven games, which includes five wins and two draws, putting Matt Taylor in the hunt for the March manager of the month award along with our very own Paul Simpson.

And the boss of the Grecians insisted that his players have to continue to enjoy the ride as they surf the crest of a wave of positivity that could well lead to a step up to League One.

"Why can't we get excited?" he said. "There's no pressure. The pressure's on Stevenage and Barrow and teams at the bottom of the table - that's team's livelihoods and teams going out of the league.

"We've just got to enjoy it, enjoy the ride. Some players might never get this opportunity again."

They're a team full of confidence and they'll certainly provide a test.

Timothee Dieng bagged goal number 12 from 38 appearances last Saturday - and what an important goal it was as it notched a vital away victory at the home of promotion rivals Newport County.

The midfielder has chipped in steadily throughout the season and, added to his energy and ability, he's proving to be one who likes to win the battles and get the team going.

He'll want to get on the ball and he'll need to be marshalled throughout the 90 minutes.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass which will allow you to listen to this fixture via our match streaming service. 

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

Jon Mellish was sent off just before half-time when Carlisle went to Exeter in November 2021, and Sam Nombe and Jake Caprice turned the screw in the second period to open up a two-goal gap. Jordan Gibson scored as United rallied, but it was the home side who took the points.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Lewis Alessandra scored with just nine minutes on the clock when these teams came together in January 2021. That was the only goal of what turned out to be a very tight game - with United emerging from a horrible period of Covid and weather related postponements at the time.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

United were down in Exeter in October 2020 when a goal from former Blue Tom Parkes was enough to claim the home win. Gime Toure was sent off midway through the second half for the Blues.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, these teams locked horns just once during the 2019/20 campaign. That was in September 2019 where late goals from Aaron Martin and Nicky Law cancelled out Olufela Olomola's earlier equaliser, after Lee Martin had opened the scoring.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Prior to that, it was another Brunton Park meeting in February 2019, when a bright start from the Grecians brought a stunning goal from Nicky Law. His initial effort from a free kick struck the wall, but he reacted smartly to volley the rebound into the bottom corner. Carlisle pushed and pushed for an equaliser, and they eventually got the reward they deserved when Devitt smashed an unstoppable set piece into the top corner.

The first game of the 2018/19 season took us to Exeter for an encounter which was played out in blistering heat. Early goals for the hosts from Nicky Law and Jonathan Forte set the Blues on the back foot, but Richie Bennett glanced a header into the net before the break to keep the Cumbrians in the hunt. There were chances to level it in the second period but Tristan Abrahams scored late in the day to make sure Exeter took the points.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Prior to that we were in Exeter once again towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign. It was a 1-1- draw, and Ashley Nadesan scored the Carlisle goal in what was a very keenly fought game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Referee - Tom Nield
Assistant Referee 1 - Simon Clayton
Assistant Referee 2 - Ivan Stankovic
Fourth Official - Graeme Fyvie
Observer - Graham Salisbury

Our match official this weekend in Mr Tom Nield. He has taken charge of 25 games so far this season and has shown 104 yellow cards and three reds.

We saw him in March 2021 for the visit of Cambridge, and it was Paul Mullin who put the away team in the lead on the stroke of half time. Lewis Alessandra equalised with just over 10 minutes left to go, but Adam May snatched the points with a late, late winner. Aaron Hayden, Dean Furman and Ozzy Zanzala all went in the book.

He was with us for our first home game of the 2018/19 season when we drew 2-2 with Northampton. Jamie Devitt and Hallam Hope scored our goals, and Devitt also went in the book.

We had him as our man in the middle 12-months prior to that when we made the long trip south to face Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium. Reggie Lambe opened the scoring with just eight minutes on the clock but that lead was quickly wiped out when Medy Elito scored from the spot. A close range volley from Tom Parkes brought an infamous dab celebration and restored the lead ahead of half time, and that was that in terms of goals as the Cumbrians went on to win the game. Gary Liddle and Tom Parkes were the Carlisle names to go in the book on the day.

Don't forget that ticket prices increase by £3 on a match day.

Click HERE for full home match ticket details, including prices and purchase options.

Click HERE to purchase your match tickets online.

Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets in-person here at our main ticket office during office hours (Pioneer Stand), online by clicking HERE, or over the phone by ringing 0330 094 5930 (option 1).