Hartlepool United Match Stats Preview

History of the Hartlepool United v Carlisle United fixture

The Cumbrians travel east to take on Pools, needing to change around their overall fortunes at Victoria Park. United hoping to improve on a record which has seen them end up on the losing side in exactly half of the 46 games played in Cleveland, the Blues winning 13, drawing 10 and being defeated 23 times in those matches.

Last season in League One Carlisle being crunched 4-0 in Hartlepool's best ever win over the Blues at Victoria Park. Luke James and Antony Sweeney putting 'Pools 2-0 up with early goals on 6 and 17 minutes respectively, before Lee Miller was red carded for a poor 27th minute challenge that sent United down to ten men. The home side then, as 5,995 fans looked on, getting further goals from James on 67 and then Colin Nish after 81 to add to Carlisle's misery.

In the 2010-11 campaign in League One though the boot was on the other foot as United coasted to a 4-0 victory on the road, the Cumbrians, in front of 3,419 spectators, already 3-0 up at half-time thanks to a Lubomir Michalik free-kick and a brace of goals from Gary Madine, the now Owls striker then completing his own hat-trick and a rout for Carlisle when he netted in the 71st minute.

In 2009-10 in League One meanwhile the Blues were thumped 4-1 at Hartlepool. Ritchie Jones putting the home side ahead after just six minutes before Scott Dobie equalised for Carlisle four minutes later. The 'Pools then netting twice more before the break thanks to Antony Sweeney and Joe Gamble, before Jones grabbed his second goal of the match with 74 minutes gone to finish off a grim night for the travelling Cumbrians in an attendance of only 2,975 spectators.

Carlisle's biggest win at Victoria Park was a 6-0 victory in the Division Four promotion campaign of 1963-64. The goals for the Blues that day, as 3,815 fans looked on, coming from Hughie McIlmoyle (2), Eric Johnstone, Reg Davies, Barry Brayton and a 'Pools own goal. Interestingly the Blues thumped Hartlepools United, as they were then named, 7-1 at home that season to complete an aggregate score of 13-1.

Meanwhile, apart from last season's 4-0 hammering of the Blues, the best margin of victory for the home side over Carlisle has been by three goals on numerous occasions. The 'Pools winning by that distance in seven of their 23 wins over the Cumbrians at Victoria Park.

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

Hartlepool have had pretty average home form at the end of last season and start of this one, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last six matches at Victoria Park. The goals for column just outweighs the goals against over this period at five to four. The away form of Carlisle meanwhile is pretty dire, managing a paltry two draws, alongside four defeats, from their last six games on the road. While the Cumbrians have notched just four goals in those matches, a hefty nine have hit the back of the wrong net.

Hartlepool currently see themselves just below halfway in the npower League One table, in 15th position showing a record of four points from their three games played so far. Carlisle on the other hand find themselves two places lower down in 17th spot on goal difference having picked up four points from their four matches contested to date.

Current overall team form

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FootyMad's prediction ...

FootyMad see this game edging towards a narrow win for the Pools, as the Cumbrians have been none too clever on the road in recent matches..... Home win

Sequence statistics

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