The Welshmen may not have learnt too much about United on Tuesday night when Carlisle moved into the area semi-finals of the LDV Trophy with a 2-0 win. Manager Roddy Collins changed formation at least three times in an effort to keep Wrexham boss Denis Smith off the scent. However Wrexham too were not at full strength and tomorrow's encounter promises to be an entirely different affair. United will be without the suspended pair of Lee Maddison and Peter Murphy but Des Byrne is fighting to be fit and will receive an injection if necessary to get him on the park. Leon Osman, who United were hoping to tie up this week on a long-term loan deal from Everton will be available for the game but is now out of Thursday's Cup replay because he would have to be signed on long term loan at least seven days prior to the game. Mark Hudson, on loan from Middlesbrough, is expected to make his debut alongside him. Smith was full of praise for United after watching them win on Tuesday. "They played well," he said. "They are a good side. Carlisle tried to pass it and do things right. People look at where they are in the table, but when you start to analyse what they have done, who they have brought in and what is happening you find out it is a good club." Although the Welshmen are some 14 places higher in the table going into the clash, Smith thinks the gap will close as the season goes on. "They will have a bloody good second half of the season. Saturday will be a totally different game from Tuesday. We will have different players, they will have different players. I hope we dominate as much as we did. And I hope we take our chances, otherwise we will get turned over as we have done. We had enough chances to win the game. In fact, we had enough chances to win two games." Meanwhile the BBC announced on Wednesday that they will be showing the 3rd Round clash between the winners of the Carlisle-Scunthorpe replay and Leeds United on their highlights programme on January 4. The decision means the winners of Thursday's match will collect £40,000 in TV fees. They will also receive £30,000 in prize money from the Football Association. Picture from News & Star |
