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The Blues welcome the Valiants to Cumbria this weekend, holding the advantage on previous meetings between the two clubs. Of the eleven games played, the Cumbrians have recorded four wins, and Port Vale have come away with two victories, five matches ending all-square.
The last time the two teams met at Brunton Park was just over a decade ago, in September 1996, where the two teams cancelled each other out in a 2-2 draw in a League Cup second round second leg match, United losing 3-2 on aggregate after being defeated 1-0 at Vale Park in the first leg. At Carlisle the Valiants twice pulled the scores back level with ex-Blue Jon McCarthy and Rowan Mills equalising for the visitors either side of a Rod Thomas brace for the Cumbrians, 5,545 spectators watching the drama unfold at Brunton Park that night.
In the league the clubs last did battle in Carlisle way back in the 1986-87 Third Division campaign, United winning the match 2-0 through second-half goals from Scott McGarvey and Mick Halsall as just 2,748 fans saw the game inside Brunton Park. The Blues finishing in a dire 22nd that season as they were relegated into Division Four under the management of ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg.
Carlisle's biggest victory at home over the Valiants came before the Second World War in the 1936-37 season, on the back of a 5-2 win. The United goals that day coming courtesy of a Joe Mantle brace, Peter McArdle, Joe Taylor and John Cliffe as the Blues found themselves 4-1 up at half-time in front of 4,691 fans inside Brunton Park. Vale's two wins in Cumbria have both been by a three goal margin, 3-0 in the Fourth Division in 1958-59 (attendance - 6,110) and 4-1 way back in the Third Division North in 1929-30 (attendance - 8,784), United's goal in that match coming, unsurprisingly in those days, from Jimmy McConnell.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2001/2002 | Tue 16 Oct | Port Vale | 2 - 1 | Carlisle | ASSM |
| 1996/1997 | Tue 24 Sep | Carlisle | 2 - 2 | Port Vale | LGEC |
| 1996/1997 | Tue 17 Sep | Port Vale | 1 - 0 | Carlisle | LGEC |
| 1986/1987 | Sat 11 Apr | Port Vale | 0 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 1986/1987 | Tue 04 Nov | Carlisle | 2 - 0 | Port Vale | LGE1 |
| 1977/1978 | Sat 22 Apr | Port Vale | 0 - 1 | Carlisle | LGE1 |
| 1977/1978 | Sat 03 Dec | Carlisle | 1 - 1 | Port Vale | LGE1 |
Recent respective form guides
Carlisle have been playing quite well at home as of late in League One, winning three, drawing two, and losing just the one in their last six Brunton Park games. A total of nine goals have been scored by the Cumbrians in those matches, with five conceded.
Port Vale have an average recent record on the road in the league in their last six matches, with two wins, one draw, and three defeats, six goals having been scored and nine conceded in those games.
Carlisle lie in eighth place just outside the play-off positions in the League One table, picking up 27 points from their 18 games so far, the Blues currently five points off the second automatic promotion spot.
Port Vale see themselves just below the half-way mark in 14th, showing a record of 23 points from their 18 games played so far, the Valiants currently seven points off the play-off spots and six points above the relegation zone.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| League home/away form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Carlisle | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Port Vale | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 4 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
The match against Port Vale is certainly an interesting one with the Footymad panel deciding it's going to end up with a victory for the Cumbrians in a close run game. Home Win
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Carlisle | No sequences of note |
| Port Vale | Last drawn game five outings ago. Not won in previous four away matches. |