“But there’s panic on the streets of Carlisle”
- Panic, The Smiths (1986)
Following an unexpected Boxing Day victory, Walsall end the year (and indeed the decade) at home to a Carlisle United side struggling for form.
The Cumbrians
Carlisle are six points and six places behind the Saddlers in League Two, currently occupying 21st place. The Cumbrians have won once in their past 10 league games with new boss Chris Beech, who replaced Steven Pressley in November, yet to record his first league victory as a manager.
That said, Sunday’s visitors have drawn quite a few games of late (including a 0-0 against 5th placed Bradford on Boxing Day) and also earned an FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Cardiff with victories over Dulwich Hamlet (A) and Forest Green Rovers (following a replay).
Though they’ve scored only once in their past five league outings, Carlisle have a decent creative threat in the form of Harry McKirdy (7 goals, 5 assists), Olufela Olomola (6 goals, 1 assist) and Sheffield United loanee Nathan Thomas (4 goals, 5 assists).
Recent League Form
Nov 23 Cambridge (H) Drew 0-0
Dec 07 Morcambe (A) Drew 1-1
Dec 14 Grimsby (H) Drew 0-0
Dec 21 Colchester (A) Lost 3-0
Dec 26 Bradford (H) Drew 0-0
Previous Meeting
The teams last met at Bescot on December 21st 2013, a 2-0 for the Saddlers that took us within touching distance of the League One play-off places. Romaine Sawyers opened the scoring on 15 minutes before Milan Lalkovic sealed the points with a turn and shot midway through the second half.
Carlisle ended the game with 10 men as Courtney Meppen-Walter was dismissed on 86 minutes, a straight red for a professional foul on Troy Hewitt.
Played for Both
Gary Liddle is the current link, having played 100 games for Carlisle before moving to Walsall in the summer. He wont feature of course, having completed a loan move to Hartlepool last week.
Walsall-born Karl Hawley netted 47 goals in 118 appearances for Carlisle between 2004 and 2007, top-scoring in three consecutive seasons as he helped them to win successive promotions from the Conference to League One. Another Walsall youth product, Matty Fryatt, scored his first league goal during a loan spell at Brunton Park in 2004.
Midfielder Ray Train began his career at Walsall (73 apps, 11 goals) before moving to Carlisle in 1971. He enjoyed five seasons in Cumbria (155 apps, 8 goals) before earning a move to Sunderland. He finished his career with a short stint at Fellows Park in 1987, retiring aged 35.
A special mention to Derek Mountfield, who helped Carlisle beat Walsall to the Third Division title in 1995 before joining the Saddlers the following season. He spent three years at the club as a player and coach, and was in the frame for the managerial vacancy that ultimately went to Sir Ray Graydon.
Other contemporary links I can think of are Zigor Aranalde, Anthony Gerrard, Martin Brittain and Mark Gillespie.
Prediction
As Darrell Clarke pointed out after the Scunthorpe game, we’d likely be in the higher end of the league if our home form was any good, so this fixture presents (on paper) a great opportunity to win well in front of our own fans and break into the top half of the table.
Carlisle have the 22nd poorest away record in the division and haven’t won away in the league since mid-September, so (despite having the 22nd poorest home record in the division) Walsall should find a way to win this one.
A very tentative prediction; 2-0 to Walsall.
Match Poll
- Walsall Win
- Draw
- Carlisle Win
love a bit of the smiths 
