A preview of what's in store this weekend
THIS SATURDAY sees the Grecians play host to Cumbrian side Carlisle United. Here is all you need to know about our League Two opponents.SAM EAST has done the research into what we can expect from this weekend's visitors.
Form this Season
After a disappointing campaign last year the Cumbrian side have turned it around this time around and are still harbouring hope of making the League Two play-offs this season.
A much better season for the Blues has also seen them, like the Grecians, host Merseyside opposition in the FA Cup, but lost 3-0 to Everton in the Fourth Round.
League Position
Carlisle currently sit eleventh in League Two after a good start to the season, picking up sixteen points in the first ten games. They currently lie three points of the play-offs, with games in hand on most in the division because of earlier postponements.
Stadium
Carlisle currently play their home games at Brunton Park. Built in 1909, it has a capacity of 18,202 making it one of the biggest in the division.
It has however made the headlines this season after major flooding towards the end of last year. Carlisle were made to play their home games at a neutral venues such as Preston’s Deepdale, Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park and Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road.
Who’s in charge
Carlisle are under the current leadership of Bristol-born veteran Keith Curle - he took over from former boss Graham Kavanagh early last season. Since then, he has slowly been able to turn the Cumbrians into a top-half side. Curle has strong links to the South West, having played sixteen times for City’s rivals Torquay United; as well as representing both Bristol clubs throughout his playing career.
After playing for no fewer than ten clubs during his career, Curle moved into management in 2002, first with Mansfield Town and then with Chester City. He soon rekindled his association with the South West, moving to manage Torquay for a short spell in 2007.
After a few years as assistant to Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, he took his next manager's job in 2012 at then-League One side Notts County.
He enjoyed a successful start to his career with them after they just missed out on the League One play-offs, but the next season the Magpies struggled, and in February 2013 he was dismissed. He took over at Carlisle in September 2014.
Marksman
Jabo Ibehre has been a man in form for Carlisle United this season, scoring fifteen goals already.
In his first season at the club the 31-year-old has impressed following his switch from Colchester United.
Having already played for ten clubs in his career, he was able score his first ever hat-trick in Carlisle’s 4-4 draw with Cambridge United this season.
Ibehre made different headlines more recently after being sent off against Accrington in just thirty-four seconds for a high tackle. However, the decision was overturned on appeal.
Player Connections
Troy Archibald-Henville will be returning to St James Park this Saturday. The former favourite at City joined Carlisle from Swindon initially on loan in 2013 before making the switch permanent in 2014.
Troy joined Exeter in 2009 on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, making thirty-four appearances across two loan spells. Paul Tisdale decided that he liked what he saw in him and was able to make the move permanent in 2010.
He went on to play eighty-one times for the Grecians and was voted the Fans Player of the Year in 2011/12 which was subsequently his last season with the reds as he left to join Swindon Town on the expiry of his contract that summer.
City have two current players to have played in a Carlisle shirt - Christian Ribeiro played five times for the Cumbrians whilst on loan from Bristol City back in the 2011/12 season, whilst player-coach Danny Butterfield joined us from Carlisle back in 2013, Danny did however only make two appearances for them joining in August 2013 only to find himself leaving the club by mutual consent just one month later.
Past meetings
Exeter boast an impressive record against Carlisle when it comes to playing them at home only losing once in the last sixteen meetings at St James Park.
Last season saw City triumph 2-0 with goals from Matt Grimes and Scot Bennett.
Whilst City’s last defeat at home to the cumbrian side was in January 2010 when Carlisle came out on top winning 3-2.
Recent Results
Carlisle United 1-4 Northampton Town
Carlisle United 2-2 Leyton Orient
Morecambe 1-2 Carlisle United
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Carlisle United
Carlisle United 1-0 Stevenage
Possible Starting 11
Gillespie, McQueen, Raynes, Ellis, Grainger, Gilliead, Joyce, Kennedy, Hope, Wyke, Ibehre.