Carlisle Preview

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 21/08/2000

Former Wembley hero Wayne Burnett may be set to feature in a first team game for the first time for 10 months tonight against Carlisle United in the Worthington Cup, after a long injury lay-off. Peter Handyside is still not fit enough to feauture in the game.

Burnett has hardly featured for the Mariners in the two seasons following his Wembley glory goal, but is reported tonight as being included in the Town squad to play against the Cumbrians.

Kevin Donovan and Tony Gallimore also face late fitness tests, with the latter in particular doubtful after limping off at Portsmouth on Saturday following a very poor display from the ex-Carlisle player

Last year Town beat Carlisle 6-0 in the second leg of the corresponding round of the competition, but this time last year Town played away in the first leg

As usual we asked our opposite numbers at the Carlisle Rivals.net site 94thminute.com about the game tomorrow night.

Fishy: What's Carlisle's current form and the mood of your supporters?

Carlisle: Not too bad really. The players on the majority have been together for two weeks, having made 10 signings over the summer, and need time to gel together I think. Of the new players, I'd say Hemmings has caught the eye of many, although he isn't the best left-back defensively, some of his forward runs are superb. Carl Heggs up-front has also caught the eye, as has David Lee, who could provide the missing link in midfield. The supporters themselves are getting cautiously excited, we've got a good manager at last, who seems to know what he's doing. The fans spent the entire second-half at Leyton Orient on Saturday chanting "Ian Atkins' Blue and White Army!", which does say something as that hasn't been chanted about one of our managers since the days of Mervyn Day back in 1997.

Fishy: Have you any players injured/doubtful or suspended for the match?

Carlisle: Richard Prokas is serving a suspension, and I think this is the last game of that. Jamie Squires was "stretchered off" on Saturday with a hamstring injury so is doubtful. (I say "strechered off" as he wasn't taken on a stretcher, some strange contraption of a wheelchair with his arms tied to his sides!). Julian Darby actually started Saturday's game suffering from illness, so might not start tonight either

Fishy: What's your prediction of the final score?

Carlisle: 0-0 in the first leg, with Grimsby winning on away goals in the second leg

Fishy: I'm pomming 2-0 to Town with Jeffrey as 1st goalscorer.

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