After a much improved second half and well deserved point against the Reds on Tuesday evening with Chris Porter’s superb equaliser, John McGreal takes his charges to still undefeated Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Saturday.

Keith Curle’s team sit one point ahead of the U’s with 3 wins and 7 draws from their ten games. Most impressive perhaps was their late show against Doncaster on Tuesday when Jabo Ibehre scored to earn the Cumbrians a valuable point.

Memories for the U’s will flood back to the last game of the 2012/13 season when the U’s secured an invaluable 2-0 win and thus survived their first of four relegation battles. This season JM will be looking to secure the three points for entirely different reasons. We must stay within the top seven places to secure a play-off spot and look to secure a top three place in what is already, after 10 games, a really tight and competitive league.

Sadly, the U’s injuries continue to grow; Garvan, Loft, Briggs, Dunne, Lapslie, Kent and now Dickenson are all out. All are missed but Dickenson especially so.

The good news is that Dion Sembie-Ferris played at Crawley on Tuesday and impressed (i n fact it was akin to his performance at Fleetwood when we won 3-2 in yet another relegation haunted season).

Suggest the following team tomorrow:

Walker

Brindley Eastman Prosser Kinsella

Wright (Drey) Slater Szmodics Sembie-Ferris

Guthrie

Porter

Subs:

Bransgrove Wynter Vincent-Young Johnston Fosu Kamara Akinwande

The Roman Army will be travelling roughly 640-miles to and from Essex to support the U’s. By contrast Carlisle is only 55 miles from my home in Durham and only Hartlepool is closer for my away journeys.

The weather tomorrow is supposed to be showery with sunny intervals. JM knows that the Cumbrians and Jabo will be a tough nut to crack. I would suggest that much of the pressure is on them to maintain their record breaking start to the season.

Safe journey to the travelling faithful.

Up the U’s

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