Bradford City will provide a stern test on Boxing Day as they sit within touching distance of the automatic promotion places as we all head into a busy run of fixtures.
The Bantams are unbeaten in their last four league outings, with three draws and one win making up that tally, and their assault on the top spots has been built on a mean-spirited defence which has conceded just 19 League Two goals.
Relegated from League One last term, Bradford settled quickly as they went on a four-game unbeaten run at the start of the campaign.
That has been followed up by a steady run of results, but manager Gary Bowyer has admitted frustration recently as he looks for his side to turn draws into wins.
Carlisle have lost just once in their last six games, so it should be a tight battle as the sides play the first of what will be three games in the space of a seven-day period.
The man to watch is the predatory James Vaughan, who has seven goals to his name so far this season, with Aramide Oteh and Harry Pritchard weighing in with three goals each as capable back-up.
A game blighted by red cards went the way of the Bantams back in September, as they bagged three in response to Olufela Olomola's early opener, but the match became a difficult one to measure for the Blues following a first-half sending off for Jack Bridge.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
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From Chris Beech ...
Speaking ahead of the game, Chris Beech said: "Bradford are a good side with some decent players and they'll have come into this season looking to bounce back from what happened to them last season.
"We've watched them and we know the threats they have, and it's a game to look forward to. It's one where we'll be looking to give our fans planty to cheer about and we're looking for a response from the weekend.
"Our standards have to be higher, we know that, and it has to come from the hard work we're doing on the training ground being taken into the 90 minutes on a match day.
"Everybody wants this club to be winning games, but nothing is given to you in this industry. You have to earn it and, again, that comes from making sure you are putting everything into everything you do."
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Head2Head
| Carlisle wins | Draws | Bradford wins | |
| League | 13 | 12 | 20 |
| Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| League Cup | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 16 | 13 | 21 |
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Highlights from previous meetings
Our last league meeting prior to this season was a 1-0 home victory at Brunton Park back in February 2014. Striker Lee Miller scored the only goal of the game - and it was an absolute stunner - and keeping goal for the Blues that night was a certain young man called Jordan Pickford.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
A more recent meeting between the teams was the July 2018 pre-season friendly, played at Brunton Park. It was a tight game with the winner coming in time added on when Richie Bennett got on the end of a deflected Hallam Hope shot.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
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The man in the middle
Our referee for this game is Mr Leigh Doughty.
He has taken charge of 15 games so far this season showing 43 yellow cards and two reds.
New to the EFL this season, records show that this is the first time Mr Doughty has been the man in the middle for a Carlisle United fixture.
Referee - Leigh Doughty
Assistant Referee 1 - Natalie Aspinall
Assistant Referee 2 - Graeme Fyvie
Fourth Official - John Matthews
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Is that a fact?
Bradford has been named Curry Capital of Britain for five years running, annually soaking up praise for its fine curry restaurants.
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Match tickets
Full match ticket details are HERE.
You can purchase your tickets online HERE.
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