Carlisle United vs Wigan Athletic | EFL Trophy Preview
League One football has been paused for the October international break, but Wigan Athletic travel to Carlisle United for match day two of our EFL Trophy campaign.
Part One | An overview of our opponents. 🔎
Part Two | “Who to Watch” players. 👓
Part Three | What can we expect from this game? 🏟️
League One football has now been paused for the international break until we return on October 19th for a trip to Cambridge United.
The EFL Trophy fixtures still take place, with Wigan Athletic travelling up to Brunton Park to take on Mike Williamson’s Carlisle United side, who are struggling in League Two so far this season.
Shaun Maloney will be demanding a win from his side who were terrible against Morecambe in our opening group-stage fixture. The Shrimps take on Nottingham Forest U21s, with both sides currently sitting on three points. Latics will need to secure a win in 90 minutes against the Blues to be able to secure a place in the next round if we can beat Forest U21s in November.
Let’s dive into the match preview to see what we can expect from Carlisle United 👇🏼
Carlisle United
Less than a dozen miles away from the Scottish Border are the most northern-based football club in the EFL, Carlisle United. Their stadium, Brunton Park, is geographically closer to both Rangers and Celtic than it is to Wigan Athletic.
In the late 1800s, the city of Carlisle had three main football clubs; Shaddongate United, Carlisle AFC, and Carlisle Red Rose. The latter two were the most established clubs of the three, but after Carlisle AFC folded in 1899, Shaddongate United gained a bigger status. In 1903, Carlisle Red Rose were banned for four months after taking part in a Scottish amateur tournament, which went against league rules, and United’s footprint benefitted from this.
During an annual general meeting of the Shaddongate United board in May 1904, a name change was proposed to better represent the city after Newcastle United reportedly influenced the idea during their fixture a year earlier. While the majority voted in favour of the name change, the minority decided that Shaddongate United would continue as a breakaway team. It was at this meeting that Carlisle United was founded 📍
Shaddongate United’s new direction quickly met a dead end when Carlisle United entered the Cumberland Senior League for the 1904/05 season, joining Carlisle Red Rose as one of the six competing sides. The Blues also entered the FA Cup and the Cumberland Cup for the first time. In United’s first season, they won the League and Cup double and applied for admittance into the Lancashire Combination League in May 1905. Their application was approved, and United entered into Division Two for the 1905/06 season. Carlisle Red Rose folded shortly after due to financial struggles.
The Blues finished 13th out of the 19 teams in their first season, before taking the title a season later to enter Division One. After three successful seasons, finishing 2nd, 6th, and 7th, United deemed the league no longer suitable to them and they entered the North Eastern League in place of their own reserve team, who had been a founding member.
Carlisle United competed in the North Eastern League from 1910 until 1928, where they won the title in the 1921/22 season following 24 wins from 38 games. In June 1928, United won 33 votes to gain election into the Football League and replaced Durham City who picked up just 11 points in their re-election request after finishing second from bottom in the Third Division North 🔄
As far as debut seasons go, an 8th-place finish in the 1928/29 Third Division North was a huge success for United and provided plenty of optimism for their future. After finishing bottom of the table in 1934/35, Carlisle were successful in their re-election application and this is the only time in their history they have had to go through that process.
United competed in the Third Division North until the Football League revamped their format and created the standalone Third and Fourth Divisions. Carlisle were entered into the latter for the 1958/59 season, and following a tenth-placed finish and two nineteenth-placed finishes, the Blues were promoted in 1961/62 after finishing fourth, which qualified for automatic promotion at the time.
Their first campaign in the new Third Division was poor, as they finished 23rd to be relegated with Bradford Park Avenue, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Halifax Town. The Blues bounced back well under the new management of Alan Ashman and instantly gained promotion back to the third tier after finishing second, level on points with Gillingham who took the title on goal difference.
After being relegated in their first season in the Third Division, cementing their place in the league was the target. However, Ashman led Carlisle to the 1964/65 league title by one point to Bristol City and achieved promotion into the Second Division. Not a bad way to bounce back! 📈
Carlisle finished 14th in their first season and led the league for the majority of the 1966/67 season despite ultimately finishing third. Ashman attracted the attention of West Brom and departed in the summer of 1967. He will forever be known as the first manager to achieve back-to-back promotions with the Blues.
Multiple midtable finishes followed, along with a fourth-place finish in 1970/71 that saw them miss out on promotion by three points. Alan Ashman returned to the club in 1972 following a spell with Olympiakos after his time at West Brom, and took Carlisle from 18th to 3rd to achieve promotion to the First Divison alongside Luton Town and Middlesbrough 👏
The Blues debut season in the First Division was not kind to them, and they finished four points adrift at the bottom despite picking up more wins (12) than Chelsea (9) and Luton Town (11) who were also relegated. United’s 25 losses and 5 draws is ultimately what sent them back down. Alan Ashman departed the club in the Summer.
Carlisle struggled to recover from their relegation, and an initial 19th place finish was followed up by a 20th place finish that saw them relegated back down to the Third Division in 1976/77.
Bob Stokoe took charge in 1980 and led United to a second-place finish in 1981/82 - level on points with Burnley who won the title on a +6 goal difference - to return them to the Second Division. Stokoe struggled to strengthen Carlisle’s status in the league, and following another relegation in 1985/86 he departed the club.
The Blues suffered back-to-back relegations and found themselves in the Fourth Division for the 1987/88 season for the first time since 1964. A 23rd-place finish saw them avoid the drop only due to Newport County picking up 19 fewer points, but Carlisle competed at this level for eight seasons until they won the title in the 1994/95 season with Mick Wadsworth at the helm 🏆
Wadsworth failed to keep Carlisle safe the next season, and they were relegated back into the Third Division. Mervyn Day replaced him and instantly secured promotion with a third-place finish. Day also failed to keep Carlisle safe the next season and was sacked following their relegation.
Over the next two seasons, Carlisle finished 23rd in each which saw them remain in the Football League only because one team could be relegated at this time. From 2002, two teams would be relegated and the Blues avoided the drop in 2002/03 by one point with a 22nd-place finish.
In Summer 2003, Paul Simpson signed as a player but took over as manager four games into the season when Roddy Collins was sacked due to the club being bottom of the league. The club had begun to face financial problems, were given a transfer embargo, and relegation into the Conference League could not be avoided at the end of the 2003/04 season.
Simpson was their full-time manager for the 2004/05 season and led Carlisle to a third-place finish to enter them into the Conference Play-Offs along with Hereford United, Stevenage Borough, and Aldershot Town. Carlisle beat Aldershot in the Semi-Finals, and then won 1-0 in the Final against Stevenage at the Britannia Stadium in Stoke 🏟️
Carlisle were excellent in their first season back in the fourth division, now known as League Two, with Simpson taking them to the league title to secure the clubs’ second back-to-back promotion. The late Alan Ashman would have been proud to see his club achieve this. Simpson was named as League Two Manager of the Year and departed the club to join Preston North End.
An eighth-place finish in Carlisle’s first season back in the third tier provided optimism, which they improved on in the following season to reach the 2007/08 Play-Offs after a fourth-place finish. The Blues faced Leeds in the Semi-Final, but their 2-1 lead after the first leg was undone by a 2-0 loss in the second leg.
The Blues spent six more seasons in League One but dropped back down to League Two following a 22nd-place finish in the 2013/14 season. They almost dropped again a season later after finishing 20th, but thankfully the club found some stability under the management of Keith Curle.
Curle took Carlisle into the 2016/17 Play-Offs, but they lost 6-5 on aggregate to Exeter City. The gaffers’ departure in May 2018, following a 10th-place finish, triggered a turbulent time for Carlisle in regards to their managerial rotations. John Sheridan took charge initially, followed by Steven Pressley, Chris Beech, and Keith Millen, amongst assistant managers taking charge as caretaker, all in the space of three seasons.
Carlisle welcomed back Paul Simpson in February 2022 following Millen’s departure, when the club was 23rd in League Two. Simpson won 8 and drew 1 of the next 15 games to guide Carlisle to safety with a 20th-place finish. A season later, Simpson took Carlisle to fifth place to achieve a Play-Off spot.
The Blues beat Bradford City 3-2 on aggregate in the Semi-Final, before taking Stockport County to penalties in the Final to win 5-4 and achieve promotion back into League One 🏆
Last season, Carlisle had a torrid time in League One. They would have to wait six games for a league win, followed by another six-game wait until their next. With just seven wins and 9 draws in 46 games and 81 goals conceded (the most in the division), Carlisle were relegated with just 30 points - 11 adrift at the bottom and 16 from safety 📉
Over the summer, Simpson oversaw a big player turnover, bidding farewell to; Tomas Holy (GK to ‘Free Agent’), Josh Emmanuel (RB to Doncaster Rovers), Corey Whelan (RB to AFC Fylde), Paul Huntington (CB to ‘Free Agent’), Aran Fitzpatrick (CB to Workington AFC), Jack Armer (LB to Burton Albion), Max Kilsby (LB to Annan Athletic), Alfie McCalmont (Mid to Australian side, Central Coast), Kai Nugent (Mid to Workington AFC), Jayden Harris (Mid to Sutton United), Jordan Gibson (Mid to Doncaster Rovers), Sean Maguire (Fwd to Cork City), and Daniel Butterworth (Fwd to Swindon Town) 👋
In preparation for their League Two campaign, Simpson welcomed; Jude Smith (GK from Newcastle United), Archie Davies (RB from Dundalk FC), Ben Williams (LB from Cheltenham Town), Cameron Harper (LB from Inverness CT), Terell Thomas (CB from Charlton Athletic), Aaron Hayden (CB from Wrexham), Ethan Robson (Mid from MK Dons), Harrison Biggins (Mid on loan from Shrewsbury Town), Jordan Jones (Fwd from Wigan Athletic), Charlie Wyke (Fwd from Wigan Athletic), Dominic Sadi (Fwd on loan from Bournemouth), and Daniel Adu-Adjei (Fwd on loan from Bournemouth) ✍️
The start of this season has not been kind to Carlisle, who sacked Paul Simpson after just one win and four losses from their opening five games, which included an EFL Cup First Round defeat at home to Stoke City. While they searched for a new manager, they lost four games in a row including a 2-1 defeat in their opening EFL Trophy fixture against Nottingham Forest U21s.
Former MK Dons manager, Mike Williamson, took charge on September 19th and secured their first away win a game later against Swindon Town. Since then, Carlisle have lost two and drawn one, which leaves them 22nd in League Two after 10 games with the worst home record in the division. It’s bleak times, but Williamson has enough time to stabilise the club this season.
Carlisle United’s Last 5 League Two Games
Carlisle United 2 - 3 Fleetwood Town
⚽️ Goals: C. Wyke (Pen. 42’, 52’)
Swindon Town 0 - 2 Carlisle United
⚽️ Goals: S. Lavelle (42’), L. Armstrong (72’)
Carlisle United 2 - 3 Grimsby Town
⚽️ Goals: S. Levelle (12’), D. Sadi (27’)
Carlisle United 0 - 2 Notts County
Colchester United 0 - 0 Carlisle United
Carlisle United have been experiencing an injury crisis this season, with former Tic’ Jordan Jones recently ruled out with a calf issue, but these are my three ones to watch 👇🏼
Cameron Harper (#3, Left Wing Back, Age: 23, joined on June 14th 2024 from Inverness CT)
Former Inverness CT Academy Graduate, Cameron Harper, made over 150 appearances for his boyhood club with 117 of those in the Scottish Championship. Last season, the left wing-back netted 3 goals and provided 11 assists in 40 appearances, and will be a good attacking outlet down the left side for Carlisle this season.
After just 5 appearances, Harper has provided three assists, two of which have come from corners.
Dominic Sadi (#24, Forward, Age: 21, on a season-long loan from Bournemouth)
After a two-year scholarship at West Ham United’s Academy, Sadi switched to Bournemouth in May 2022 and trained with the first team during their first preseason together.
The forward made his senior debut in a League Cup Second Round tie against Norwich City, where he assisted the equaliser in the 92nd minute with a cross from the left byline. Bournemouth went on to win on penalties, but this would be Sadi’s only appearance.
In August, Carlisle United announced Sadi’s loan signing, with Simpson stating “It's a challenge for him because it's his first loan out, but Bournemouth think really highly of him, and once he settles in I'm sure he'll be a really good addition to the squad.”
Since Williamson has taken charge, Sadi has picked up one goal and one assist in four appearances and will be a danger in our area.
Samuel Lavelle (#5, Centre Back, Age: 28, joined on July 7th 2023 from Charlton Athletic)
Experienced EFL centre-back, Samuel Lavelle, has featured in over 220 games across the third and fourth tiers and is the club captain alongside team captain, Charlie Wyke.
At 6-foot-2, Lavelle is a danger from set pieces and has scored two goals in his last four games, both of which have come directly from corners. For both of his goals, Lavelle has run across the box to meet the ball at the near post, and this is something Latics will need to be aware of when defending set pieces.
With the international break upon us, Latics will be without Sam Tickle, Calvin Ramsay, Luke Chambers, Baba Adeeko, Thelo Aasgaard, and Dale Taylor as they have been called up to international duty.
Tom Watson is most likely to start in goal, with Andy Lonergan making the bench, and Harry McHugh could return to the squad to start at left back after picking up some minutes in the Under 21s last week. I expect Scott Smith to start alongside Matt Smith in the midfield, with Tyrese Francois and Kai Payne possibly being called up to the bench.
Jonny Smith requires some minutes to regain his match fitness levels, and Josh Stones is most likely going to start up top with Joe Hugill injured and Taylor away with Northern Ireland.
Whatever lineup Shaun Maloney selects, we need to see a much stronger performance than our opening EFL Trophy game against Morecambe FC. That showing was dreadful, flat, and put us bottom of the group stage. This competition is one that we should be pushing to win, and I expect to see a drastic improvement after going six games without conceding a goal in League One and looking strong.
I expect Carlisle United to play for set pieces as much as possible, putting the ball into the mixer for the likes of Levelle and Wyke to get on the end of. Mike Williamson could make a big statement to the Brunton Park faithful if his side can secure a win, but due to their ongoing injury concerns, I feel that Latics in this form will be too big of a challenge at this stage.
👕 Starting XI Prediction: Watson, Carragher, Kerr, Sibbick, McHugh, Payne, M Smith, J Smith, S Smith, Olakigbe, Stones
⚽️ Score Prediction: Carlisle United 0 - 4 Wigan Atheltic
Up the Tics 🔵⚪️
🙌 Thank you for reading!
✍🏼 Charlie Keegan / Central Wigan
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