Two minute guide: Carlisle United v Port Vale
It’s the first cup game of the new season as Vale travel to Carlisle United in the League Cup…
In the picture
The story behind our choice of image we’ve chosen to lead the article with…
The photo is from back in September 2013 and shows striker Tom Pope netting a dramatic last-minute winner as the Valiants won 1-0.
The two sides
Port Vale
- Manager: Bruno Ribeiro
- Last match: 0-0 vs Bradford
- Top scorer: N/A
Carlisle United
- Manager: Keith Curle
- Last match: 1-1 vs Portsmouth
- Top scorer: Reggie Lambe (1)
Match details
Venue:
Brunton Park
Date:
8th August, 19:45pm
Prices:
- Adults : £10 advance (£13 on the day)
- Seniors: £10 advance (£13 on the day)
- Juniors (11 to 17): £5
- Child (under 11): Free
Tickets are available to pay on the day.
Pre-match quotes
“I watched the game between Bradford and Carlisle last week. Carlisle lost 2-0 but played well and played good football. We will go there to win, the same for every game, but it is a difficult game for us.”
Bruno Ribeiro
“If you have a look at the cup experiences we had last season with Liverpool and Everton, we want to go as far as possible in every single competition.”
Keith Curle
Team news
It may seem odd to say it but after nine debutants played in the draw with Bradford City the main question for Vale is whether to stick or to blood some more players. There’s an argument that Vale should field their strongest side which would mean that the likes of Nathan Smith, Jerome Thomas and Anthony Grant keep their places. However, there may also be the temptation to give the likes of JJ Hooper (above) and Anton Forrester a start.
Carlisle’s Jamie Devitt will sit out the game through suspension. The midfielder was dismissed on his debut at Portsmouth on Saturday after collecting two yellow cards inside half an hour.
Last time we met…
The two sides met in the JPT last season when a solitary goal from Uche Ikpeazu was enough to see Vale through. The two sides have met once in the League Cup back in 1996. It finished 1-0 at Vale Park and ten-man Vale (after Martin Foyle was sent-off) drew the second-leg 2-2 to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Overall record
Port Vale wins: 12
Port Vale losses: 10
Draws: 10
Club connections
Winger Jeff Smith is one of a rare breed – a player who cost Carlisle United a transfer fee from Port Vale.
Smith had joined the Valiants in 2004. He had been signed from non-league by Bolton and had made a sprinkling of appearances on loan before joining Vale. His first season was inconsistent but Smith showed enough to earn another one-year deal. He started his second season strongly with four goals and a number of assists. It included a goal in Vale’s 2-3 loss to Carlisle and in January the Cumbrians came calling with a successful £60,000 bid for Smith.
Smith stayed with Carlisle until 2009 making 50 appearances before moving on to Darlington.
Vale stats: 88 games | 5 goals
Other players to appear for both clubs include:
- Inside-left Dave Galloway
- Winger Jennison Myrie-Williams
- Midfielder Chris Birchall
- Striker Billy Paynter
- Midfielder Anthony Griffith
- Winger Jon McCarthy
- Defender John Brodie
Did you know…
- The two sides first met in 1929 with Vale recording a thumping 4-1 away win. Albert Pynegar (above), Phil Griffiths (2) and Harry Anstiss were the scorers.
- In the return, the Valiants triumphed 4-0 (Sam Jennings (2) and Harry Anstiss (2) scored)
- Carlisle got their revenge in the next fixture winning 5-2.
- Vale lost both their 2006 and 2008 visits to Carlisle by a 3-2 scoreline.