Last updated at 11:57, Saturday, 09 February 2013

Stevenage boss Gary Smith has warned his side that Carlisle United are on the up ahead of today’s clash at Brunton Park.

Stevenage boss Gary Smith

The Boro manager has been put on alert by the Blues’ good recent form, which has seen four victories since Boxing Day.

Carlisle’s win at leaders Tranmere last weekend was particularly eye-catching to Smith, whose side are 12th in League One.

It’s why the Stevenage chief anticipates a difficult test in Cumbria today for his side who are in good spirits after their own midweek win over Notts County.

“Carlisle had a really good result at the weekend against Tranmere and their fortunes have changed a little,” Smith said.

“They themselves have probably underachieved this season and will be feeling that way but recent results have seen a turn of fortunes for them and they’ll be feeling more confident.

“No game is easy, that is proved week in week out, it has been stated before that probably from 4th to 18th or even 20th position, each team is capable of putting in a terrific performance and a good result on any weekend.

“It doesn’t matter where you go in this league, we want to get something out of the game [at Carlisle] that will reinforce what happened on Tuesday night.

“We’ll hope for a decent result and then we can come back in better spirits and feel pretty decent about ourselves.”

Graham Westley’s successor at the Lamex Stadium will be without lynchpin defender Jon Ashton today.

The centre-half is out for the season with an achilles injury.

But Smith will be able to call on defender Ben Chorley, who signed from Leyton Orient on transfer deadline day.

Centre-half Chorley, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Hertfordshire outfit, has already enjoyed a successful day at Brunton Park this term.

The 30-year-old scored Orient’s second goal in their four-foal first-half rout of the Blues on November 17.

Smith could hand another start to midweek scorer Sam Hoskins, while Marcus Haber is pushing for a call-up.

Former United loan flop Miguel Comminges is expected to start in the visitors’ back four.

First published at 11:36, Saturday, 09 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk