Town welcome Carlisle United this Saturday for the penultimate home fixture of the 2021/22 season at The Envirovent Stadium.
And the game will signal the Supporter Than You Day with a number of activities in the lead up to kick off as the club looks to recognise the continued loyalty and support of the Town fans.Find Out More
Our opponents
United come into the game in 17th position and sitting on 50 points, with Town knowing that victory will see them leapfrog their opponents.
For much of the season Carlisle were heading towards a relegation scrap but the appointment of Paul Simpson as the club's third manager of the season proved pivotal in seeing the side move away from danger.
The club returned to winning games on Monday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win against promotion chasing Mansfield, but prior to that had failed to win in four games following a run of six wins from seven following Simpson's arrival.
On the road this season Saturday's opponents have picked up a point a game on average, with six wins from their 21 games.
Earlier this season
Town have recorded two wins over the Cumbrian side this season with George Thomson and Alex Pattison finding the target in a 2-0 league win in late November, before an early Luke Armstrong strike sealed Town's progression in the Papa John's Trophy in early January.
Ones to Watch
The club has yet to see anyone hit double figures in goals but Omari Patrick is just one shy of that mark having struck nine times since his mid-season arrival from Burton Albion.
Tobi Sho-Silva was another January window signing and he has four goals since joining from Sutton.
Lewis Alessandra will likely partner Patrick in attack, with Jordan Gibson a threat from midfield alongside Brennan Dickerson.
Jon Mellish has been a near ever present in the backline, with Rod McDonald providing a veteran presence.
The man in charge
Paul Simpson was appointed in late February, replacing Keith Millen who in turn had taken over from Chris Beech before being dismissed less than four months into the job.
He previously had a spell at Brunton Park almost 20 years ago, also managing Preston, Shrewsbury and Stockport as well as coaching stints at Newcastle United and the England youth set-up.
Before embarking on a managerial career Simpson had a notable playing career, most prominently for Manchester City, Oxford and Derby.
History
Carlisle were officially formed in 1904 and have featured mainly in Third Division during their 117 year existence. The 1973-74 season saw the Cumbrians promoted to the First Division for the first time but they'd only stay there for a year before relegation.
Successive relegations in the 80s then saw Carlisle drop to the Fourth Division and it's where they stayed until winning the league as champions in 1995. The club then yoyoed in out of the third and fourth division until in 2004, their 76 year stay in the Football League came to end.
It was, however, a brief end as the club returned the following the season and then won the League Two title the year after. Carlisle would continue to be a League One club for the next eight seasons, winning the Football League Trophy in 2011 before relegation to League Two in the 2013/14 season.
Team news
Town's injury misfortune continued this week with both Ryan Fallowfield and Will Smith suffering serious injuries that will see them sidelined for a number of months.
Simon Weaver is now without the services of 11 first team players, but will hope that two of those, Alex Pattison and Lloyd Kerry, recover from the injury that saw him miss the defeat at Northampton.