Crewe Alexandra Match Stats Preview

Last updated : 15 February 2008 By thetashkentterror
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History of the Crewe Alexandra v Carlisle United fixture

The Blues travel to south Cheshire to take on the Railwaymen on Saturday afternoon, needing to turn around their fortunes at the ground formerly known as Gresty Road. The Cumbrians will be hoping to improve upon a record which has seen them lose 22 and win only a paltry seven of the 38 games between the two on Alex' turf, nine of the matches ending in draws.

United were thrashed 5-1 at Crewe in League One last season in front of 5,989 spectators. Karl Hawley actually put Carlisle 1-0 up before a brace from Luke Varney and a hat-trick from Ryan Lowe ensured that the home side took all three points with ease. Only four players from that United matchday sixteen in September 2006 look likely to be involved tomorrow, those being Keiren Westwood, Danny Livesey, Peter Murphy and Paul Thirlwell.

The Blues last won away to Crewe in the league in the 1993-94 season, Carlisle being victorious by the odd goal in five. United were 2-1 up at the break and would go on to win 3-2 against an Alex' side that were automatically promoted, in third place, at the end of the campaign. A Rod Thomas brace and a goal from Jamie Robinson securing all three points for Carlisle, with lower league hotshot Tony Naylor scoring both goals for Crewe in front of a Gresty Road crowd of just 3,679 spectators.

The biggest win at home for the Railwaymen against the Blues was a 7-1 hammering in Division Three North back in 1938-39, Carlisle's scorer that January afternoon being Alex Hamill from the penalty spot. United's best margin of victory in a league game at Crewe was a 5-3 victory in the same division in 1930-31, the Carlisle goals that day, coming, unsurprisingly in that era, from a Jimmy McConnell hat-trick and single strikes by Sam Armes and William Watson.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here

Recent encounters between the teams:
2007/2008Sat 19 JanCarlisle1 - 0CreweLGE1
2006/2007Sat 20 JanCarlisle0 - 2CreweLGE1
2006/2007Sat 30 SepCrewe5 - 1CarlisleLGE1
1995/1996Tue 02 AprCarlisle1 - 0CreweLGE1
1995/1996Sat 14 OctCrewe2 - 1CarlisleLGE1
1994/1995Tue 14 FebCrewe0 - 1CarlisleASSM
1993/1994Mon 04 AprCrewe2 - 3CarlisleLGE2

Recent respective form guides

Crewe have only collected one win and three draws from their last six home games played. While The Railwaymen have scored seven goals, a worringly large 11 have been leaked at the other end.

The away form of Carlisle is pretty dire though, collecting just one solitary point from their last six matches on the road. The Cumbrians have conceded a hefty ten goals in these games while only scoring once themselves.

Crewe find themselves struggling down in 18th position in the League One table having picked up 34 points from their 32 matches. Carlisle meanwhile are just outside the automatic promotion places, in third, having taken 52 points from 30 games.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here

Last six games form guidePWDLFAP
Crewe6132586
Carlisle63126610

FootyMad's prediction ...

Nothing appears to be going right for the Cumbrians out on the road recently, yet the Madmen can see a turn around in fortunes as they battle to a victory in a closely fought contest at Crewe Alex.. Away win

Sequence statistics:
CreweDrawn last three matches at home.
CarlisleFour games since last defeat.
Not won in previous ten away matches.