How Carlisle United have fared on New Year's Day over the years

And the record says the Blues have had their fair share of positive January 1 games over the years.

United have played 39 matches on the first day of the year during their history since joining the Football League in 1928.

Their overall record on January 1 shows 16 wins, nine draws and 14 defeats.

The most recent January 1 victory came at Morecambe in 2019, when Jamie Devitt and Jack Sowerby struck to earn a 2-0 win.

Before that, you have to go back to 2008 for the previous New Year's Day triumph for the Blues - a 4-2 win against Hartlepool when Joe Garner (two), Jeff Smith and Simon Hackney were on target.

Carlisle's January 1 history got off to a good start in the Football League, when they toppled Lincoln City on New Year's Day 1929, record scorer Jimmy McConnell's brace helping the Blues to a 3-1 win.

The following year things were not quite so festive, though, as 1930 began with a 7-2 reverse to Accrington Stanley.

A 1-1 draw with Doncaster heralded the start of 1931, the same score resulting when they faced Tranmere on New Year's Day 1932.

Then it was 1935, and a 2-1 win over Lincoln, with a 1-1 draw against Rotherham in 1936 and the same result against York in '37.

Accrington were the victims of a 3-1 Blues win on January 1, 1938 - and also again on the next New Year's Day encounter, in 1947, when Carlisle prevailed 4-2.

Ivor Broadis, who scored in the latter game, then starred with a hat-trick on the first day of 1948 as the Blues saw off Mansfield 3-1.

Ivor Broadis: New Year's Day hat-trick (photo: PA)

A 4-2 win over Southport followed in 1949, with an Alan Ashman goal in consolation in a 3-2 defeat to Chesterfield in 1952.

Ashman was then on the winning side when he scored in a 2-1 win over Stockport at the start of 1953, and he netted a double on January 1 1954 in a 2-2 draw against Workington Reds.

United lost 1-0 at Hartlepools in 1954, before Alf Ackerman helped them to a 2-0 win over York on 1957's first day.

Bradford Park Avenue were 3-2 winners at Brunton Park on January 1, 1958, and the next New Year's Day game involving the Blues then came in 1966, when Chris Balderstone, Stan Harland and Eric Welsh accounted for Charlton 3-1.

Frank Barton and Bobby Owen put Leyton Orient away 2-0 at Brunton Park in 1972, and Bill Green and Dennis Martin did the same in 1974 as another southern side in Luton were handed a long trip north for New Year's Day.

Bill Green: Started 1974 in style (photo: PA)

1983 began with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle when Alan Shoulder and Paul Bannon scored for the Blues at St James' Park.

An impressive 2-0 win at Wolves, thanks to Don O'Riordan and Mally Poskett, began 1985, but it was a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United to kick off 1986.

Poskett, Archie Stephens and John Halpin netted in a 4-3 defeat to Burnley on New Year's Day 1988, while Alex Jones and a Nigel Saddington penalty earned a 2-1 win over York at the start of 1990.

Dave Miller's goal was in vain as Aldershot beat the Blues in 1991, and it was a 1-0 defeat to Rotherham a year later. A goalless draw followed against Hereford in 1994, and Tony Gallimore's penalty was in consolation as the Cumbrians lost 2-1 at Blackpool in 1996.

Hartlepool edged the Cumbrians 2-1 on 2003's first day despite a Jamie Burt goal, but Karl Hawley earned the points in a 1-0 win over Bradford as 2007 was ushered in.

Karl Hawley ruins Bradford's new year in 2007

Garner, Smith and Hackney did the damage against Pools in 2008, and a 2-2 draw against Huddersfield launched 2011, Francois Zoko and James Chester completing the Blues' comeback.

A 1-0 defeat at Crewe came on New Year's Day 2013, and the Railwaymen did it again the following year, this time 2-1 as Tom Lawrence hit United's consolation.

A trip to Mansfield yielded a 3-1 defeat at the start of 2018, then came Devitt and Sowerby's strikes at Morecambe in victory a year later.

The last New Year's Day game involving the Blues was a 4-1 thrashing at Crewe in 2020, when all the home side's goals came in the first half before Jack Iredale hit a slim consolation.

Two years on, let's hope for a slightly better outcome at Scunthorpe...