Carlisle United take on fellow National League side Tamworth today in the FA Cup fourth round qualifying. Will Carlisle progress through and make it to the first round properly, or can Tamworth ruin the Blues hope?

Teams

Carlisle United: Rob Elliott’s side has, and I think it would be safe to say, a terrible start to the season compared to the expectations of their own accord; a dismissively dull afternoon against Kidderminster last weekend could have put a glass eye to sleep, however, to put a positive spin on it that does leave the side three games unbeaten (keep the faith, folks).

A win against Tamworth too many is non-negotiable, but it would be foolish to forget that Tamworth in recent years have loved a good cup run; who can forget their fantastic run to the third round last year when Spurs just squeezed past them in round three? The lambs shouldn’t be seen as an easy pass to the 1st round proper but a big test for Rob and the players to prove their worth.

Tamworth: Andy Peaks’ side will be looking at this fixture with a taste for a cup shock. Although competing in the same division as the Blues, Tamworth is not expected to beat Carlisle. I’m not sure why, judging by this season.

The season hasn’t been a great start for them either, and a loss to the other club from Cumbria last weekend put them 18th in the league. Some fans were left asking questions on Peaks’ tactical decisions, especially the constant long ball into the box trick (could play into a Blues advantage… or not). But like stated before, they are a good side and can prove a tricky one at that – no easy ask for the pride of Cumbria today.

Prediction

I’m backing the team again (I’m a jinx, I know) and going for a three-nill win to put the Blues into the first round proper and build some much-needed momentum as they enter a tough run of games that could make or break the season.

Blues News

Instead of the usual Blues News, I got in touch with the FA Cup Factfile to ask them if they could provide us with some interesting Carlisle Cup facts, and here are some.

In 1933/34, Carlisle United were the first football league club to lose to opponents that had started in the Extra Preliminary Round that season (Cheltenham Town 1-2).

1974/75 Carlisle United’s best FA Cup run to quarter-finals coincided with the only season the club spent in the top division!

Carlisle United are competing in the 116th FA Cup campaign this season and have scored 575 goals so far (86th most).

1907/08 Carlisle United 9-1 Windermere (2nd Qualifying Round) is the club’s biggest ever win in the FA Cup!

1996/97 vs Shepshed Dynamo (Rd 1) and 2010/11 Tipton Town (Rd 1) are Carlisle United’s biggest wins in the proper rounds of the competition! (Tipton Town had also started in Extra Preliminary Rd). Six nil victories

Carlisle United’s most common opponent in the FA Cup is near neighbours Barrow FC, having met 12 times in total but not since 1950/51 season (76 years ago). Barrow won 6 and Carlisle United 4, but Carlisle was disqualified after a 1-0 replay win in the 1920-21 2nd qualifying round.

So there you have it, some interesting facts, and just before we finish, a quick rant from myself: the decision to not have the FA Cup exclusively on either the BBC or ITV (second year running) is simply disgraceful, and the quicker TNT sports wrap-up, or at least never getting the rights again, the better in my view. Putting the oldest and, in my view, the greatest cup competition in the world behind a paywall not only ruins the exposure for smaller clubs but also damages the FAs picture of inclusivity. However, can you expect such integrity and care for fans in English football anymore when the biggest cheaters in the nation’s history sit at the top of the English pyramid!

Anyway, enjoy your weekend, and c’mon, you blues.