Carlisle United must try to avoid an unwanted piece of Brunton Park history when they face Walsall this weekend.

The Cumbrians have gone four league games without scoring at home, and a fifth would equal the record set by John Sheridan’s team in autumn 2018.

Although Carlisle have scored four FA Cup goals in two recent home games against Forest Green and Cardiff, their last home league goal was Ryan Loft’s winner against Macclesfield on November 2 – six hours and eight minutes ago.

Since then they have had three 0-0 draws, against Cambridge, Grimsby and Bradford, and a 3-0 defeat to Plymouth.

Sheridan's side broke the record in a goal-shy spell in September-October 2018, failing to score in consecutive home League Two defeats to Tranmere, Stevenage, Grimsby, Morecambe and Yeovil.

They finally ended that run with a Jamie Devitt goal against Newport after a wait of seven hours and 59 minutes.

United could move seven points clear of the relegation place with a win today.

But those beneath them in League Two will be looking go make up further ground on the Cumbrians, with bottom side Morecambe hosting out-of-form Cambridge, second-bottom Stevenage at home to promotion-chasing Plymouth and third-bottom Macclesfield also at home against ninth-placed Forest Green.

All the bottom six are at home, in fact, with Mansfield taking on Bradford and Leyton Orient hosting Newport.