Exeter City Match Stats Preview

History of the Carlisle United v Exeter City fixture

Carlisle welcome City for their long trip north on Saturday holding a narrow advantage on games played between the two sides in Cumbria over the years. United winning 11 of the 24 matches despite not having tasted victory in any of the last four meeetings, and Exeter seven of the 24, while six have ended all-square. One of those draws coming last season in League One in late February 2011 courtesy of a 2-2 scoreline in front of a Tuesday night attendance of just 3,962 spectators inside Brunton Park.

All the goals coming in the opening period as Carlisle went 1-0 up through Craig Curran in the ninth minute before a brace of goals from Ryan Harley after 13 and 27 minutes put the visitors 2-1 ahead. Francois Zoko netting though in first-half stoppage time to level matters as no further goals would come after the interval.

In the 2009-10 campaign in League One meawhile the Blues lost out 1-0 to the Grecians in a tight August afternoon game at Brunton Park in 2009. Marcus Stewart, from the penalty spot, scoring the only goal of the match for the visitors in the 73rd minute as 5,156 fans looked on.

The last time the two sides met at Brunton Park before that was on the final day of the regular 2004/05 Nationwide Conference season. Exeter, unlike an already qualified Carlisle, having to put it all on the line in an attempt to get the play-offs. Other results meant that they would fail in their efforts though despite winning 2-0 in front of 6,588 spectators. The City goals both coming in the second-half through Steve Flack and Lee Phillips.

Of United's 11 home wins against the Grecians just two have come by a three-goal margin. The first 3-0 back in the 1963/64 Fourth Division promotion winning season (goalscorers Hughie McIlmoyle 2 and Joe Livingstone - attendance 6,454), while the second came in the Third Division in 1979/80 through a 4-1 victory (Carlisle goalscorers - Jimmy Hamilton 2, George McVitie and Peter Beardsley - attendance 4,082).

Exeter have had a good recent record at Brunton Park with five of their seven wins coming in their last eight Cumbrian visits, stretching back to the 1998/99 Jimmy Glass season. That run coming following a dry spell after the Grecians had won their first two games at Brunton Park in 1958/59 and 1959/60. The latter of those two campaigns seeing Exeter's best historical win in Cumbria courtesy of a 4-0 scoreline.

Recent encounters between the teams

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

Recent respective form guides

Carlisle have been playing quite well at home recently, winning three, drawing two, and losing just one of their last six games at Brunton Park. A total of eight goals have been scored by the Cumbrians in those matches, with four conceded. The away form of Exeter is dire, losing every single one of their last six matches played on the road, and eight in a row away from home overall, the Grecians having conceded thirteen goals in their last six away games, while only netting twice in reply.

Carlisle, in eighth place, lie just outside the play-off positions in the npower League One table, picking up 66 points from their 44 games played so far. Exeter meanwhile, in 23rd position, are stuck down in the relegation zone of the division with a return of just 41 points from their 44 games contested to date.

Current overall team form

For a detailed analysis of current team form guides in this or any division, click here

FootyMad's prediction ...

The match against Exeter is certainly an interesting one with the Footymad panel deciding its going to end up with a victory for the Cumbrians in a close run game........... Home Win

Sequence statistics

For a detailed analysis of current team sequences throughout the leagues, click here