Walsall Match Stats Preview

History of the Carlisle United v Walsall fixture

The Blues welcome the Saddlers to Cumbria tomorrow holding the advantage on previous meetings between the two teams at Brunton Park. Of the 25 games played Carlisle have won eleven while Walsall have been victorious five times, and nine matches have ended in draws.

Last season though it was the, at the time, bottom of the table Saddlers picking up their fifth of those wins courtesy of a 3-1 success in early February in front of just 4,332 spectators inside Brunton Park. Matt Gill on 37 minutes then a brace of goals from Julian Gray after 59 and then 73 minutes putting the visitors 3-0 up before Peter Murphy in stoppage time scored what could loosely be called a consolation goal for the Cumbrians.

In 2009-10 though, the match ended all-square in League One in late April at 1-1 after Darren Byfield gave Walsall the lead as early as the second minute before Jason Price, who has played for both the Blues and the Saddlers during his career, equalised for the Blues in the 29th minute as 5,114 fans looked on.

Meanwhile in the 2008-09 League One campaign United and the Saddlers drew 1-1 again in Cumbria in early February. The Blues taking the lead through Paul Thirlwell on 19 minutes only for Michael Ricketts to equalise from the penalty spot for the visitors after 84 minutes in front of 4,502 spectators.

Walsall's biggest win at Carlisle over the years was a 6-1 thumping of the Blues way back in the Third Division North in 1934-35, United's sole goalscorer that day being John Ranson as 2,907 fans looked on. You also have to go back into the history books again to find Carlisle's largest margin of victory over the Saddlers in Cumbria, that coming, again in Division Three North, in 1931-32. The goalscorers, in a 4-0 win, being Jimmy McConnell with a brace, and Jack Davidson and Arthur Sharp with single strikes in front of 3,678 spectators.

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

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 are in very decent form at home, having won four and drawn two of their last six games at Brunton Park. A hefty total of sixteen goals have been scored by the Cumbrians in those games, with a bumper ten also being conceded. In complete contrast to United, Walsall are having a torrid time on their travels, losing just one from their last six matches away from the Banks's Stadium, but amazingly drawing the other five. Only four goals have been registered for the Saddlers in this time, but then just five have been leaked at the wrong end.

Carlisle, in seventh place, lie just outside the play-off positions in the npower League One table, picking up 41 points from their 25 games played so far. Walsall meanwhile, in 20th spot, are hovering perilously just one place above the relegation zone, with 24 points gained from their 26 matches 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 ...

It's good news for Carlisle United fans, because, with them being in such great nick at home, the Footymad panel just cannot see any further than an emphatic home win for the Cumbrians........... Home win

Sequence statistics

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