Stat Attack: Carlisle United vs. Notts County, Saturday 21 October 2017

Carlisle United and Notts County have met 32 times since their first clash back in October 1959, a Fourth Division clash that was won 2-0 by the Cumbrians.

Out of those, the Magpies have won 17 and lost 12, with just 3 draws.

Our last meeting was on 8 April this year in League Two, a 2-1 win at Brunton Park.

Carlisle staged their 'home' fixture against Notts at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium in December 2015 due to floods in Cumbria which impacted on Brunton Park as well.

Carlisle is one of the northernmost clubs in the Football League, just 10 miles from the Scottish border, and one that’s normally mentioned among the most difficult away days – talk of “Carlisle away” is one for the most hardcore fans, especially in midweek (Newcastle United are further north than Carlisle, however).

The Cumbrians have spent a season in the top flight, back in 1974-75, and recorded a double over Everton, as well as home victories over eventual champions Derby County, former titleholders Ipswich Town, Arsenal, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They were relegated at the end of the season though.

Carlisle is the smallest location, by population, to have had a resident top-flight English football club since 1906. Prior to this, Accrington FC, Darwen, Grimsby Town & Glossop North End were smaller.

Despite their small stature, the club has experienced moderate success with regards to silverware – they have won a Third Division title back in 1965, two fourth-tier championships in 1995 and 2006, and two Football League Trophies, back in 1997 and 2011.

Carlisle are famous for one of the most dramatic Great Escape scenarios in all of English football, when on-loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored in the last 10 seconds of their final game of the 1998-99 season against Plymouth Argyle to keep the Cumbrians in the Football League at the expense of Scarborough.

Team news

Carlisle have defender Danny Grainger back from a one-match suspension.

Steven Rigg came off the bench in the 3-3 draw against Wycombe on Tuesday night and will be eyeing his second full debut after re-signing for the club last week.

Jason Kennedy is also pushing to start after returning from fitness problems but midfielder Kelvin Etuhu remains a doubt.

Striker Shaun Miller has been hit with a two-match ban after being retrospectively punished for diving - the first player in England to suffer this fate.

Ross Fitzsimons is expected to remain in goal for Notts with Adam Collin still ruled out.

Fitzsimons made his first league start in midweek after Collin suffered a knee injury against Barnet and the problem is still being assessed.

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