| Carlisle welcome Norwich to Cumbria tomorrow evening for an FA Cup second round tie that kicks off at 5.15pm as it is being broadcast live on the FA website, both sides picking up £67,500 apiece as their broadcast fee |
A month and a half ago the two sides met in the league at Brunton Park in a League One fixture that the Canaries won 1-0 thanks to a 42nd minute Wes Hoolahan goal. That one of three Norwich wins over the years at Carlisle in the 11 games between the two sides, United having won five themselves whole the other three have ended in draws.
Of Carlisle's five victories at home to the Canaries, two have come by a three goal margin. The first a 4-1 win in Division Two on the opening day of the 1965-66 season (scorers - Ron Simpson 2 [1 pen], Chris Balderstone and Frank Large, attendance - 11,954). While the second was a 3-0 victory in December 1972, again in Division Two, Stan Bowles getting a hat-trick for the Blues as 9,079 fans looked on.
As for Norwich, both their other wins at Brunton Park have been big ones, City hitting four goals without reply in each game. The Canaries, in September 1968, thumping United in a season in which Carlisle didn't get a victory in their first 12 league games, only to then win eight and draw three of their next eleven matches. Then in October 1985 City scored four again at Brunton Park in a campaign in which they won the Division Two title, while United were relegated alongside Middlesbrough and Fulham.
The Canaries, on the back of seven wins, a draw and just one defeat in their last nine league games currently sit fourth in the League One table. City also in goalscoring form as they have scored 18 goals in their last six league and cup matches, that a worrying stat for a leaky Carlisle defence. United though, 17th in the table, are also in good form of late, having won five of their last eight league and cup fixtures.
Transfer-wise for City yesterday, on loan deadline day before the January transfer window, they snapped up two players and one left on loan. The two signings, both until the 4th of January, are tricky winger Anthony McNamee from Swindon and right-back Russell Martin from Peterborough, while going through the exit door is young midfielder Damon Lathrope who has joined Blue Square South outfit Bishop's Stortford until the turn of the year.
Martin will be in the Canaries squad for the game tomorrow as he joins from a Championship side who have given him permission to play in the FA Cup, McNamee however is cup-tied having featured for Swindon in their narrow first round 1-0 win over Woking at the County Ground.
As for injuries, the signing of Martin has been brought on by defensive pair Michael Spillane and George Francomb both being sidelined, Spillane a with hamstring problem while Francomb has a groin injury. Midfielders Matt Gill (knee), Luke Daley (thigh) and Owain Tudur-Jones (calf) are also out, along with, finally, young goalkeeper Declan Rudd (knee).
The referee for tomorrow evening's tie is Nigel Miller from Consett in County Durham, and he will be assisted down the lines by Robert Jones from Merseyside and Scott Duncan from Newcastle. Meanwhile the fourth official is Jeremy Simpson from Carnforth.
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