Tonight sees two in-form sides as Carlisle United arrive at the Alexandra Stadium having won 8 of their last 10 games against a Crewe Alexandra side that have lost only 1 of our last 8.
Looking at the visitors, so far this season they have 16 victories, 4 draws and 11 losses in the league as they sit in 5th place in the league. In the league, they have beaten Cheltenham Town twice, Port Vale twice, the Alex, Cambridge United, Bury, Oldham Athletic twice, Newport County, Swindon Town, Colchester United, Crawley Town, Macclesfield Town, Morecambe and Mansfield Town, have drawn against Northampton Town, Lincoln City, Notts County and Exeter City and have lost to Exeter, Mansfield Town, Tranmere Rovers, Stevenage, Grimsby Town, Morecambe, Yeovil Town, Forest Green Rovers, MK Dons and Northampton.
In cup competitions, they lost against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup while they lost to Lincoln in the FA Cup 2nd Round after knocking us out in the first. In the EFL Trophy, they finished 3rd in their group that contained Sunderland, Stoke City’s Under-21 side and Morecambe.
Looking back in the archives, the two teams have met 92 times with Carlisle leading the head-to-head with 42 wins to 36 with 14 draws. Carlisle’s biggest win came last season at the Alexandra Stadium as they won 5-0 whilst the Alex’s biggest win came in January 1939 with a 7-1 victory at the Alexandra Stadium. Carlisle have won the last 4 meetings between the sides as they won 5-0 at the Alexandra Stadium last season and two 1-0 games, both last season and in August at Brunton Park, as well as the FA Cup meeting in November.
Who are the officials for the game?
The officials for this game see Paul Marsden as the man in the middle where he is assisted by Matthew Jones and Hristo Karaivanov with Ravel Cheosiaua being the fourth official. Here is the Crewe game that has been refereed by Marsden in the previous 5 years:
- Lincoln City 1-0 Crewe Alexandra (6th October 2018)
I asked Carlisle United supporter Jack Cousin for his thoughts going into the game.
How do feel that your season has gone since we last played?
It’s gone very very well. We’ve won eight of our last ten and are firmly in the promotion hunt now.
What do you think the team will be for tonight’s game?
Collin G. Miller Gerrard Parkes Grainger Thomas Etuhu Devitt O’Hare Hope Cullen (if fit)
Is Etuhu the danger man for this game or is there someone else that we should look out for?
Etuhu has been very solid but Devitt is definitely our dangerman. He makes our midfield tick and if you give him space he’ll punish you.
Where do you feel that you’ll finish now (assuming that 15th or so isn’t going to be the answer)?
It’s going to be tough to maintain our current form but we’ve strengthened well in January after losing Sowerby and Nadesan. I’ll go for 3rd, I couldn’t take another play-off semi-final defeat!
Any changes to who you think will be promoted or relegated?
I think Lincoln will win the league, probably quite comfortably in all honesty. I still think Colchester are a dangerous outfit and I think they’ll pick up points and get into the playoffs.
Notts County look in big trouble but I think Macclesfield will stay up. They played well at Brunton Park in December and Sol Campbell has done an excellent job there so far.
