Hartlepool complete a run of three home games on the spin at Brunton Park on Tuesday night.
The January transfer window has thus far brought 20-year-old defender Jake Hull in on-loan from Rotherham until the end of the current season.
28-year-old striker Marcus Carver, who had netted 12 goals in 17 league games for Southport, was another arrival on an undisclosed fee.
Pools boss Graeme Lee hinted that more could follow as he looks to build on the current lower mid-table position, with the carrot of an away tie at Crystal Palace in the next round of the FA Cup an added bonus.
Hartlepool went into Saturday's away game at Bristol Rovers with just one win from their previous five league outings.
They looked solid for close to 90 minutes, but it became a nightmare of a long away journey when Aaron Collins gave the Pirates the lead with just three minutes left to play. The afternoon got worse when Jamie Sterry was sent off deep into time added on. Antony Evans rubbed salt into the wounds when he swept the penalty into the back of the net.
Morale is still relatively high, however, followng that FA Cup giant-killing performance against Blackpool in the third-round of the competition.
Keshi Anderson appeared to put the Tangerines into cruise control with an early goal, but teenager Joe Grey was the hero of the hour when he netted the winner after David Ferguson had levelled the scores right at the start of the second half.
Former-Blue Mark Cullen has six goals from 21 appearances and, as we know, can be a real thorn in the side.
He netted five in seven games through October and November, and gives defences a torrid time both with and without the ball.
He's our midweek one to watch.
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| Carlisle wins | Draws | Hartlepool wins | |
| League | 45 | 18 | 34 |
| Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 48 | 19 | 36 |
These teams met twice in the space of four days in August 2021, with the Blues at Victoria Park for a league meeting that went the way of the home side. Tyler Burey opened the scoring, Zach Clough levelled, but Gavan Holohan netted the winner late in the day.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
The group game in the Papa John's Trophy was also in August 2021, and that went to penalties after Taylor Charters, Manny Mampala and Tristan Abrahams had bagged for the Blues (the 90 minutes ended 3-3). United won the shoot-out 4-3.
Watch the highlights from that game here:
Hartlepool 1 - 1 United, Friday 14 April 2017
United 3 - 2 Hartlepool, Saturday 15 October 2016
United 1 - 0 Hartlepool, Tuesday 5 April 2016
Hartlepool 2 - 3 United, Saturday 29 August 2015
Referee - Ollie Yates
Assistant Referee 1 - Gary Hilton
Assistant Referee 2 - Peter Gooch
Fourth Official - Matthew Dicicco
Observer - David Phillips
The referee for this game is Mr Ollie Yates. He has been in charge of 14 games so far this season showing 53 yellow cards and two reds.
We saw him at Northampton in October 2021 when a Paul Lewis hat-trick sunk the Blues. It ended 3-0 to the home side, and Jack Armer and Callum Guy went in the book for the Blues.
He was at Brunton Park in March 2021 for our 3-1 home win over Bradford. Rhys Bennett (2) and Ozzy Zanzala scored the goals, and it was a busy day of bookings with Lewis Alessandra, Paul Farman, Jon Mellish and Zanzala all having their names taken.
Mr Yates was also in charge for our November 2020 trip to Hayes & Yeading for our FA Cup first round encounter. Jon Mellish netted twice in the depths of extra time to take it to a penalty shoot-out, with Gav Reilly bagging the decisive spot kick. Dean Furman and Omari Patrick picked up yellow cards.
He was at Brunton Park back in October 2016 for the visit of Crawley. Jabo Ibehre, Jason Kennedy and Luke Joyce scored our goals in a 3-1 victory, and Mark Ellis was the only Carlisle player to be booked on the day.
We then met him at Cambridge in September 2018 when we ran out as 2-1 winners at the Abbey. Richie Bennett and Ash Nadesan netted for us, and Adam Campbell was the solitary booking handed out during the 90 minutes.
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