Stevenage Football Club welcome Paul Simpson’s Carlisle United to The Lamex Stadium for tomorrow’s crucial Sky Bet League Two clash…
Unbeaten after the opening four league fixtures, Steve Evans and his men return to The Lamex once again for Sky Bet League Two action with the tough opposition of Carlisle United standing in the way. The Cumbrians are also unbeaten in the league as it stands, meaning the stakes are high.
After a disappointing 2021/22 campaign for Carlisle, finishing 20th in the table, The Cumbrians were hoping for improvement. A busy summer transfer window has seen Paul Simpson bring in fourteen fresh recruits in hopes of a positive season. So far, all has paid off for Carlisle, achieving two draws and a win in their opening three matches. Their most recent Sky Bet League Two clash was abandoned just half an hour in due to Grimsby’s waterlogged pitch.
Despite producing the most ‘big chances’ in the league thus far, Carlisle’s opening games haven’t involved too many goals, with both draws ending 1-1 and their only win finishing 1-0 to The Cumbrians. Simpson’s men will be looking to continue their strong defensive record and will be no pushovers when it comes to breaking them down.
Paul Simpson arrived at Brunton Park in February 2022 and ensured EFL safety for his side before signing a new three-year deal in the summer. Simpson is no stranger to The Cumbrians, however, having taking over as player-manager back in the mid-2000s.
Stevenage and Carlisle are two sides rather familiar with each other, having met on twenty-four occasions in the past. Boro have come out on top eight times, with The Cumbrians winning twelve and the other four fixtures ending in draws. The 2004/05 Conference season was the first times these two sides met, with Stevenage winning 2-1 in both home and away fixtures.
Carlisle got their own back on Boro later that campaign in the Play-off final, winning 1-0 and earning promotion to The Football League. Stevenage’s promotion to League One in 2011 meant the two sides would meet again and have since faced each other every season, with Carlisle coming out on top in the head-to-head battle.
Carlisle proved to be a tough test once again for Boro last season, with the first fixture ending 2-0 to The Cumbrians at The Lamex. Steve Evans’ side then travelled to Carlisle for the final away game of the season and fell to a 2-1 defeat, despite Luke Norris’ late penalty.
Craig Hicks has been appointed as Match Referee for Saturday’s game and will be alongside Assistants Paul Kelly and Andy Bennett with Stephen Brown as Fourth Official. Hicks’ most recent fixture was Salford vs Crewe in which he reduced the latter to ten men.
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