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Oxford United v Carlisle United: From wellington boots to football boots for the Cumbrians

11 December 2015

Carlisle United have been among the front page news this week, but it's back to business in Sky Bet League 2 on Saturday when they take on Oxford United.

Things are going rather well for Oxford at the moment. They sit top of Sky Bet League 2 after 20 games, and a midweek triumph over Yeovil Town earned them a place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Area Final, where they will test themselves against Millwall.

Read more: Johnstone's Paint Trophy Area Semi-Finals review

However, it's their opponents on Matchday 21 that have been making all the headlines this week. Carlisle and Cumbria was badly hit by Storm Desmond, with more than a month's worth of rain hitting in 24 hours.

United's Brunton Park home was left flooded by the downpour, which will result in their forthcoming home fixture with Notts County being played at Preston North End's Deepdale ground.

Read more: Deepdale to host Carlisle United home game

And on Tuesday, the Cumbrians' squad did their bit for the community with a remarkable gesture of goodwill, getting together to assist locals affected by the floods.

Read more: Carlisle players to help locals following Storm Desmond

But the players can ditch the wellies and get back into their more familiar football boots on Saturday when they make the trip to the Kassam Stadium, a ground where they are yet to taste victory.

In their last three visits, they have fallen to defeat by the odd goal, following a 0-0 stalemate in 2003. You have to go back to 1980 for Carlisle's last victory at Oxford - a 2-1 success - although that came at the Manor Ground, which is the former home of the U's.

It's been 2-1 to the home side in the pair's last three encounters, and if that scoreline were to repeat itself on Saturday, then it would extend Oxford's unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions. Sixth-placed Carlisle are four unbeaten, however, and have scored an emphatic 14 goals in that period - six of which have come from in-form Charlie Wyke.

Can Carlisle halt the leaders' progress this weekend? Find out by following this, and all the division's games, on our divisional matchday Twitter feed - @SkyBetLeague2.



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