Match Preview: Carlisle United (A)
EFL League Two
Brunton Park
Saturday, January 28, 2017 – KO 3pm
Team News: Bira Dembele (calf) and Jamie Stephens (groin) have short-term injuries and have missed Barnet’s last few fixtures.
Michael Gash (knee), Shaun Batt (hamstring) and Ben Tomlinson (quad) are long-term absentees while James Pearson (knee) continues to recover from a long lay-off.
Last Time We Met: The Cumbrians visited The Hive London in September and ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Jabo Ibhere’s 21st minute strike.
The goal arrived when Nicky Adams scampered down the left and whipped the ball across the face of goal for the arriving Ibhere to nudge home while on his knees.
Adams nearly added a second when he got in down the left again but, on this occasion, curled wide of the top corner.
Skipper Danny Grainger also went close, cutting in from the left and firing low past the far post with his right foot.
Barnet’s best chance came when Curtis Weston played in John Akinde. But he could not beat Carlisle stopper Mark Gillespie at the near post.
Manager: Keith Curle, 53, has been in charge at Brunton Park since September 2014 when he succeeded Graham Kavanagh.
A former England international who won three caps for his country, the Bristolian made more than 100 appearances for Bristol City, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers during a lengthy playing career which spanned more than 700 games.
Curle retired from playing in 2005 but not before a two-year stint as player-manager of Mansfield Town. In his first season he took the Stags to the League Two Play-Off Final but they were beaten on penalties by Huddersfield Town.
His next venture into management came at Chester City in 2005. He made a bright start before a run of 11 defeats from 12 games spelled the end in February 2006.
A short-term deal at Torquay United in early 2007 saw him unable to prevent the Gulls from relegating in 15 games at the helm and he would then work under Neil Warnock – his boss at Sheffield United – at Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.
In February 2012 Curle returned to frontline management as Notts County boss, missing out on a play-off place on goal difference.
However, just shy of a year after his appointment Curle was released by the Magpies with the club 10th in League One.
Dangerman: Striker Charlie Wyke, 24, has an incredible 13 goals in just 18 league starts for the Cumbrians this season, making this by far the best season of his fledgling career.
The Middlesbrough native started his career with a his hometown club, signing a three-year deal in May 2011 after impressing in the club’s Academy setup.
Loan spells at Kettering Town, AFC Wimbledon and Hartlepool United (twice) were far from prolific but he made a good impression with Pools in particular.
Indeed, it was his form with the North East outfit which prompted Carlisle to buy Wyke from Boro for an undisclosed fee and, in January 2015, he penned at 18-month contract at Brunton Park.
In all competitions Wyke has 38 strikes from just 71 starts for the Cumbrians.
Connections: Carlisle keeper Max Crocombe made five appearances on loan at Barnet during the 2015/16 season following injuries to Graham Stack and Jamie Stephens. He joined Oxford this summer but has been restricted to EFL Trophy appearances only.
Defender Valentin Gjokaj had loan spells at both clubs but did not feature for the Cumbrians in the league. His best moment in a Barnet shirt was his thunderbolt winner at Nuneaton Town in April 2014.
Brazilian attacker Magno Vieira spent the 2006/07 campaign at Barnet having impressed on loan at Carlisle United during the 2004/05 season, netting ten times in 27 league starts.
EFL journeyman Jason Price enjoyed two spells at Brunton Park between 2010 and 2011 before scoring once in five games while on a short-term contract at Underhill.
Barnet was the penultimate stop for utility man Paul Warhurst who made 28 league appearances in black and amber between 2006 and 2007 before calling it quits. He earlier spent a short stint with Carlisle in 2004, playing just once.
Last Time Out: Carlisle extended their winless run to four EFL League Two matches on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at ten-man Accrington Stanley.
The hosts saw Matty Pearson dismissed after just 12 minutes for a strong challenge on Macaulay Gillesphey.
Things went from bad to worse for Accrington eight minutes later when Carlisle took the lead. Defender Omar Beckles tried to clear Jason Kennedy’s effort off the line but only succeeded in helping the ball in.
But Accrington equalised in the 21st minute when Shay McCartan bent a stunning free-kick in off the underside of the crossbar to earn the home side a share of the spoils.
Carlisle United (4-4-2): Gillespie; Liddle, Raynes, Gillesphey, T. Miller; Kennedy, McKee, Adams; Miller, Wyke.
Ticket info: Full ticket information is available by clicking here.
