Stat Attack: Notts County vs. Carlisle United, Saturday 7th May 2016

Carlisle United and Notts County have met on just 29 occasions 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 16 and lost 10, with just 3 draws.

Our last meeting was on 19 December 2015, as 3,067 Carlisle fans who made the 170-mile round trip to Preston North End's stadium - during a time of horrendous floods in Cumbria - saw their side comfortably beat Notts 3-0.

Carlisle United 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 experience moderate success with regards to silverware – they have won a Third Division title back in 1965, two Fourth Division 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.

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Liam Noble will miss Notts County's game against Carlisle as he serves the second game of his five-match suspension following his third red card of the season.

Izale McLeod came on as a last-minute substitute in last weekend's 1-0 victory at Newport County and could push for a start.

Curtis Thompson's long-term ankle injury, meanwhile, will rule him out of the Magpies' final game of the season as he looks to recover in time for pre-season.

Jon Stead looks set to lead the line after completing 90 minutes at Newport unscathed after sustaining a head injury in the previous match.

Winger Jack Stacey has been recalled by parent club Reading and will miss Carlisle's trip, while Hallam Hope will come back into the squad, with the striker having completed a three-game ban for the Cumbrians.

Defender David Atkinson returned to the bench as an unused substitute in last weekend's 2-0 home loss to Oxford following a hamstring injury but could play some part.

Young midfielder Patrick Brough filled in for Macauley Gillesphey when he failed a fitness test and will do so again if the on-loan Newcastle winger is still not fit.

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