Northampton Town make the trip to Brunton Park to take on Carlisle United this Saturday in a big clash in the bottom half of the table. Though Northampton are on the brink of cracking into the top half of the table, Carlisle sit in a tight relegation zone and need a win to get out of it.
Carlisle currently sit 22nd in League One after 20 games. The Blues have three wins, six draws and 11 losses, leaving them on 15 points, just one point from safety, despite having the joint fewest number of wins in the league along with Cheltenham.
In their last five games in all competitions, Carlisle have one win, one draw and three losses.
A Samuel Lavelle own goal in the first half was the only thing to separate Carlisle and Bristol Rovers as ten-man Rovers, who had Tristan Crama sent off, took home the 1 - 0 win. In the Football League Trophy Groups stage, Carlisle hosted Harrogate Town. Jordan Gibson got a goal in both halves in a 2 - 0 win for Carlisle.
Corey Blackett-Taylor opened the scoring for Charlton within ten minutes of the second half, but a goal from Lavelle within eight minutes gave Carlisle the point and the 1 - 1 draw. Another Lavelle own goal gave Reading the lead, but Luke Plange got Carlisle level almost immediately. However, a brace from Harvey Knibbs and goals from Lewis Wing and Femi Azeez gave Reading the 5 - 1 win.
The most recent outing from Carlisle was against Blackpool. A brace from Jordan Rhodes and a goal from Andy Lyons gave Blackpool the 3 - 0 win.
Northampton, on the other hand, sit ten spots above Carlisle in 12th. In 20 games, Northampton have eight wins, two draws and ten losses which leaves them on 26 points, 11 points above the relegation zone and ten points below the Play-offs.
In their last five games in all competitions, Northampton have three wins and two losses.
In the Football League Trophy Group stage, Northampton took on MK Dons. Manny Monthe opened the scoring for Northampton, but goals from Charlie Waller and Darrah Burns put MK Dons ahead in the second half. Tyreece Simpson’s penalty drew Northampton level but within a minute of being level, Dawson Devoy gave MK Dons the 3 - 2 win. Northampton bounced back in League One against Cambridge. Kieron Bowie and Sam Hoskins both scored in the 2 - 1 win over a ten-man Cambridge, who had Paul Digby sent off just three minutes after Gassan Ahadme got them on the scoresheet.
Another 2 - 1 win came Northampton’s way against Blackpool. Both Bowie and Hoskins were on the scoresheet again, giving Northampton the 2 - 1 win despite having just 39% of the possession. However, Northampton were back on the losing end against top of the league Portsmouth. A brace from Paddy Lane and a goal from Sean Raggett gave Portsmouth the 3 - 0 win.
The last time out for Northampton was against Fleetwood. A brace from Mitch Pinnock and a penalty from Hoskins gave Northampton the 3 - 0 win.
Carlisle and Northampton Town have met 47 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1958. Northampton have the better record in the fixture with 19 wins in comparison to Carlisle’s 13 wins, with a draw being more common than a Carlisle win, with 15 draws.