High-flying Port Vale plot latest cup shock
The curse of the League One leaders that only Brighton have proved immune to has hit Carlisle worse than most. They enjoyed a brief skirmish with top spot in the third tier at the end of August but have won only two of their last seven matches, failing to score in four of their last six.
None of the Cumbrians' three defeats - against Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Peterborough - have been disgraceful though, and when they are good, they are really good, as evidenced by a 4-1 thrashing of MK Dons, victory at Hillsborough and the 4-0 away demolition job recently carried out on Hartlepool.
Their home tie against Port Vale in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tonight is intriguing for three reasons: 1) to witness their response to Saturday's loss home loss to Peterborough, 2) because Carlisle reached the final last year, and six of the last nine finalists have bowed out in their first appearance the following year and 3) as their opponents are currently first in League Two.
Micky Adams' side showed they weren't unstoppable last weekend however, when after six successive wins - the latter five without conceding - they were beaten 2-1 away at Oxford.
Yet while they head to Brunton Park on a slight downer, they certainly have the cup form to spring a surprise. QPR and Rochdale have both been vanquished in one-off games this season, adding to the three scalps (Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Stockport) they claimed in 2009-10.
Given that Carlisle have gone three home matches without winning, or even finding the net, you could therefore do a lot worse than chance a few quid on the League Two table-toppers providing another upset this evening at the tasty price of [4.4].
Will the Valiants be put in their place for once? The hosts can be backed at [1.99]...
Published: 5 Oct 2010
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