Carlisle need some favours

Carlisle manager Greg Abbott has to guide his side to a second triumph at Boundary Park this weekend - this time without extra-time and a penalty shoot-out, as was the case in the first round of the Carling Cup.

The Cumbrians' scratch goal difference would then mean their realistic chance of getting into the top-six rests with both Stevenage and Notts County failing to win their respective matches on the final day.

Hope springs eternal for the anticipated 4,000 fans travelling to the game from the Lake District, not to mention Abbott himself.

"We know what we have to do now," he said. "We only have to focus on our game and win it. If it’s not good enough, we can’t do much more.”