It would be fair to say that Carlisle United's history of making the long trip to Exeter's St James' Park isn't a particularly happy one.

Only five times over the decades have the Blues managed to leave Devon with maximum points.

That's five times in 31 visits.

At least that makes the job of picking out United's most memorable journeys relatively simple.

Their first away win against today's opponents came in only their second-ever visit in the Football League.

That was in September 1959, as George Walker's double and a Matthew Murray goal earned a 3-1 victory for Andy Beattie's Blues in the Fourth Division.

The idea of Exeter's home being a happy hunting ground for United was swiftly quashed, though, in subsequent years.

Carlisle's next four visits were winless, and it took until 1977 for them to chalk up another victory at the Grecians' ground.

That September, top marksman Billy Rafferty did the damage as Bob Moncur's Third Division side snatched a 1-0 win.

The ninth month of the year was clearly a fruitful one when it came to Exeter visits, for in 1979 Carlisle enjoyed another September success, Phil Bonnyman and Paul Bannon this time on target in a 2-1 triumph for Moncur's men.

From there, it was another 31 years and 12 trips before Carlisle tasted victory there again.

When they did so, it was in typically melodramatic fashion, as Joe Anyinsah shot Carlisle 2-0 up before Exeter fought back to level in the last minute - cue a injury-time Blues winner from Richard Offiong, which would prove the striker's only goal in a United shirt in January 2010.

Proof, then, that unlikely things can happen in the fixture - while there was further drama in the last game of the 2016/17 season, when United needed victory to sneak back into the play-offs.

Twice on May 6, 2017 they went behind, and twice they fought back through Danny Grainger penalties. Then Jamie Proctor nodded home a Blues winner, to set up a play-off semi-final against...Exeter, and there's absolutely no need to mention what happened in that particular second leg back in Devon, and every need to remind ourselves of the Grainger and Proctor show with this footage instead:

All in all, it's been five wins, nine draws and 17 defeats from 31 trips to date - a lot of miles for not very much.

May the spirit of Offiong, then, follow Keith Millen's men on their latest mission...