Carlisle United v Coventry City

Carling Cup

Brunton Park

Tuesday 28th August, 7.45pm kick-off

Coventry team news: Coventry boss Iain Dowie will be without injured midfielder Michael Hughes for this fixture, whilst defender Robert Page is also a doubt, however Dowie has no suspension's for this tie.

League Position: Coventry have made an excellent start to the season and currently sit top of the Championship having amassed seven points from their three games so far.

And the reason for such a good start is evident when you consider that the Sky Blues have already notched six league goals and three more in the cup in just four games.

First round match: Coventry 3-0 Notts County

Marshall, Osbourne, Hawkins, Page, Borrowdale, Cairo (Birchall 64), Doyle, Stephen Hughes, Gray (Tabb 69), Adebola (Simpson 73), Best.

Subs Not Used: Konstantopoulos, Ward

Coventry eased through to the second round of the Carling Cup with a comfortable victory at the Ricoh arena.

The home side struggled to break the deadlock in the first half, but proved too strong in the second with Dele Adebola, Leon Best and Robbie Simpson all scoring to see Iain Dowie's men through.

One's to watch: United's defence will have to be well aware of a strike-force that has proved itself more than capable so far this season. United fans will remember Leon Best's performance for Yeovil at Brunton Park last season. The former Southampton man was a picture of power and pace as he took apart a United backline that will be out to stop the same happening again.

Backing Best up Coventry also have the dangerous Leon McKenzie as well as the powerful Kevin Kyle and as if that wasn't bad enough, the Blue's will have to be on their toes to keep an eye on former Brentford midfielder Jay Tabb. Tabb is a player always willing to join in the attack and has a good eye for goal.

Summer signings:

Robbie Simpson from Cambridge - £40,000

Julian Gray from Birmingham - Free

Demi Konstantopoulos from Hartlepool - Free

Arjan De Zeeuw from Wigan - Free

Leon Best from Southampton - Free

Michael Hughes from Crystal Palace - Free

Gary Borrowdale from Crystal Palace - Free

Ellery Cairo from Hertha Berlin - Free

Donovan Simmonds from Charlton - Free

Top scorers:

Leon McKenzie - 2

Jay Tabb - 1

Kevin Kyle - 1

Carlisle team news: United are still missing Ged Dalton through a long-term knee injury, and Peter Murphy through an ankle injury but otherwise Greg Abbot has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Team from the last cup match: Westwood, Arnison, Raven, Livesey, Aranalde, Gall, Thirlwell, Bridge-Wilkinson, Smith (Hackney 71), Graham, Garner (Carlton 88).

Subs Not Used: Howarth, Lumsdon, Brittain

Last four games between the two teams:

05/04/1975 - Carlisle United 0-0 Coventry - Old Division 1

26/10/1974 -Coventry 2-1 Carlisle United - Old Division 1

25/02/1967 - Coventry 2-1 Carlisle United - Old Division 2

08/10/1966 - Carlisle United 2-1 Coventry - Old Division 2

Head to head:

CUFC - 2

Draws - 2

Coventry - 6

Referee: Refereeing this fixture is Mr Jonathan Moss from Yorkshire.

Mr Moss is no stranger to Brunton Park and his last trip to Cumbria came in our dramatic 3-2 victory over Port vale last season. So far this year Jonathan has refereed two games issuing six yellow cards in total.

Yellow cards per game: 3