Carlisle seek home comfort

IT IS a clash of two out-of-form teams as Athletic head for Carlisle tomorrow, but the Coca-Cola League One fixture is of massive importance to both clubs.

While Athletic’s goal is to secure a long-overdue victory - they have not won in their last seven league matches to slide towards mid-table - Carlisle desperately need the points to halt their slump towards relegation.

Athletic have yet to win since the much-heralded return of Joe Royle as manager four matches ago when he replaced John Sheridan.

Their slump kicked off long before Royle’s arrival, but as yet he has been unable to arrest the slide.

Athletic have won only two of their last 14 league matches (taking only 11 points). That is relegation form after they were challenging for promotion for much of the season.

All they have to play for is pride in the remaining five games and to finish the season on a high note.

And if they are looking to end their miserable run, they will never have a better opportunity than tomorrow at Brunton Park where Carlisle’s wretched home form has contributed greatly to their lowly league standing.

Carlisle, like Athletic, have not won in their last seven league games and have only two victories in their last 16 matches in League One.

And they have failed to win at home since beating MK Dons 3-2 on January 17. In almost three months since then, Carlisle have failed in eight attempts.

They have lost against Colchester, Stockport, Leyton Orient and Hereford and been held by Walsall, Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe and Northampton.

Tomorrow is a must-win match for Carlisle who at least received a pick-me-up last Saturday when they drew 2-2 at leaders Leicester, Scott Dobie scoring their equaliser deep into injury time.

Royle says Athletic must respect Carlisle as they showed against the Foxes they are capable of producing a top-drawer performance.

They also have the experience needed to provide a steadying influence as striker Michael Bridges, who is on loan from Hull City, once cost Leeds £5million.

Midfield player Graham Kavanagh, now aged 35, has Premier League experience with Middlesborough, Wigan and Sunderland while 16-goal top scorer Danny Graham kicked off his career at Middlesbrough.

Carlisle’s battle against relegation contrasts sharply to recent times when last season they almost pulled off a remarkable third successive promotion.

After losing their Football League status in 2004, Carlisle won back-to-back promotions and last season almost made it a hat-trick when they were edged out in the League One play-offs.

However, the summer sales of striker Joe Garner to Nottingham Forest for £1.14million and keeper Keiren Westwood to Coventry City for an undisclosed six-figure sum have hit the club hard, while the campaign has also been plagued by injuries.



FIXTURES

GOOD FRIDAY - Bristol Rovers v Northampton, Carlisle v Athletic, Peterborough v Cheltenham, Scunthorpe v Huddersfield (7.45), Southend v MK Dons (1.0), Yeovil v Millwall.

SATURDAY - Brighton v Swindon, Crewe v Hartlepool, Hereford v Leicester, Leeds v Stockport, Leyton Orient v Colchester, Walsall v Tranmere.