Big Match Preview

Championship

Plymouth Argyle vs. Blackpool

Saturday March 27, 15:00, Home Park

Play-off chasing Blackpool make the long trip down to the South West to face a Plymouth side desperately trying to climb out of the Championship's relegation zone.

With points so precious to both teams, there'll be added spice with the return of Seasiders boss Ian Holloway to a club he acrimonioulsy left in 2007.

The Pilgrims are now under the management of Paul Mariner, who took charge just before Christmas after Paul Sturrock was removed due to poor results.

Things have improved marginally under the new man, but Argyle still go into Saturday's game five points adrift of safety with time running out.

Their cause was boosted by an impressive 2-0 win at Mariner's old club Ipswich in midweek. However, it's their form at Home Park which will determine their fate come May.

That makes the visit of Blackpool a must-win for the Devon side, despite their opponent's lofty position.

Plymouth will therefore be hoping top scorer Jamie Mackie can add to his eight goals this term and take advantage of opponents who have struggled on the road.

Paul Mariner is battling to keep Plymouth in next's season Championship

They're likely to face a Pool team full of confidence though after they recorded their biggest win of the season on Tuesday night.

A stunning 5-1 win at Bloomfield Road against high flying Swansea re-ignited Holloway's men's play-off challenge. They'll now be hoping to put a run together - starting with recording their first away win since Boxing Day.

Indeed, the Tangerines have suffered defeat in four of their last five games on the road. A goalless draw at Lancashire rivals Preston represents their only positive result away from home.

If they are to make a late push for the top six - they currently sit five points off the play-offs - then the experienced Holloway will expect to beat his struggling former side.

The undoubted star man in the Blackpool side this season has been former Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam. The big-money summer signing has been worth every penny - notching 15 goals of his own and creating numerous others.

With the experienced duo of Ben Burgess and Brett Ormerod up front, if Adam is on his game then the Plymouth defence can be sure of a tough examination.

It's the time of the season though where the greater needs often tells - and Plymouth's is that. The Argyle faithful will also be desperate to beat their former manager's new team.

They have made themselves harder to beat on home soil and, if they can quieten Blackpool's attacking verve, then they can collect a priceless three points.

Nobes' Prediction: Plymouth Argyle 2 Blackpool 1

JPT Final: Carlisle United vs. Southampton - Wembley History

In the next installment of our pre-match programme ahead of the JPT Final this weekend, Turls looks at the Wembley history of two clubs involved - Carlisle and Southampton.

With New Wembley still being referred to as New Wembley, it's interesting to see the teams that have graced the ripped up turf.

We all remember the dismal FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester United. In contrast, few people would have watched the barnstorming JPT Final between Luton Town and Scunthorpe United.

For both clubs this weekend, the JPT Final offers a chance to create a new passage in history. Neither club has played at the either the old or the new Wembley this century.

Carlisle were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play at the impressive - and cheap - Millennium Stadium when they contested the Football League Trophy in 2002/03 - where they lost to Bristol City - and 2005/06's defeat to Swansea.

Southampton haven't even been close to heading over to London to play in a showpiece match.

But which club has more Wembley pedigree?

In the grand scheme of things, Southampton have a richer history than Carlisle but many would argue that Carlisle's day trips to London have more relevence to this final.

Let's take a trip down memory road and see how both clubs have fared when going to the home of English football.

Carlisle United

This will be the fifth time that the Cumbrians have appeared in the final of the Football League Trophy.

With four previous appearances, it doesn't make good reading for Carlisle fans. Only on one occasion have the North West outfit returned to their home with the coveted trophy on their team bus.

As mentioned earlier, their last two outings appeared in Wales so at least they didn't have to travel as far after a another defeat.

This is the first time the club have gone to Wembley since the 1996/97 season. They got to the final of the Football League Trophy and faced Colchester United.

I'm not going to lie, it was an ugly game - not one for the purists. It ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of mind-numbing monotony.

Carlisle fans didn't give a hoot though because they won the game on penalties and were celebrating long into the night.

Barry Fry's Birmingham City defeated Carlisle in the 1995 final

Their victory over Colchester would have been a nice form of medication after losing out in the final of the same competition only two campaigns before.

The 1994/95 season saw the Cumbrians lose 1-0 to a tough Birmingham side. Again, it wasn't pretty but the West Midlands outfit went home with the spoils.

Carlisle have a long history in the competiton and have appeared in the final more times than any other team. However, they will be keen to replicate their 1996/97 season rather than the other three which have ended in defeat.

Southampton

The Saints haven't been to the New Wembley yet but they did have the pleasure of travelling to the Wembley of old a few times.

They played in three FA Cup finals, a Community Shield, and a League Cup final during the 20th Century.

However, despite this abundance of finals, they have only they graced the hallowed Wembley turf three times before it was knocked down.

This is because the 1899/1900 and 1901/02 FA Cup finals were played at Crystal Palace. To make it worse, they lost both games. Unlucky chaps.

They, like Carlisle, have also been to the Millennium Stadium, when they lost to Arsenal in the 2002/03 FA Cup final.

However, let's not dwell on the days of Welsh finals and let's travel back in time to look at the glory days of Southampton FC.

In the 1976 FA Cup final, the South Coast club played Manchester United. Going into the game as massive underdogs, few gave the Saints a chance.

However, a Bobby Stokes goal threw a spanner in the United machine and they held out to shock the nation. Easily the club's finest achievement, they will be looking to this moment for Wembley inspiration.

As a result of their FA Cup glory, they returned to Wembley at the start of the following season to face the defending league champions, Liverpool.

Although Southampton caused an upset by beating Manchester United in the FA Cup, there was to be no repeat performance as Liverpool won the game 1-0.

Saints last piece of silverware was their Wembley win in the FA Cup in 1976

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom as they would be given another chance going to Wembley.

In the 1978/79 season, Southampton progressed to the League Cup final. Their opponents were Nottingham Forest.

With Brian Clough in charge, this team was about to make history by winning the league and then winning — and retaining — the European Cup.

Many would have been forgive for thinking that Forest's slick passing football would destroy the Saints, but the South Coast club held their own and eventually lost to the Reds 3-2. No shame in losing to a bunch of European Cup winners.

They did make the Zenith Data Systems Cup Final in the 1991/1992 — where they again lost 3-2 to Forest.

I'm not going to mention that too much though because, although it was played at Wembley, it was played during a dark time for British football.

So does Wembley experience mean anything? If it does, then both clubs have a track record of being beaten and winning at the home of English football.

My verdict on the whole matter is that both clubs will want to to win this. It doesn't matter if it's the JPT or the European Cup, winning a trophy means a lot to footballers.

Will managers be trying to utilise the spirit of former teams? If they do, they need putting in a straight jacket and throwing in a padded cell with the guy who thought ITV Digital was a good idea.

Tomorrow we look back on previous finals and preview Sunday's match.

Fan Files: Carlisle United

Carlisle's appearance in this Sunday's JPT final is their fifth - a record for the competition.

If they can upset the odds and beat Southampton, they will officially become the most successful team in the competition's history.

So, with that moment of history in mind, our Fan Files turn their attention towards the Cumbrians.

United fan David Jackson has been following his local side from being a youngster in the late '80s.

Over the years he's seen many amazing moments following his side including goalkeeper Jimmy Glass's injury time goal to keep them in the Football League and a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out against Aldershot in the Conference play-offs.

His worst period supporting Carlisle was the summer of 2001 when former chairman Michael Knighton seemed intent on running the club into the ground with the sacking of manager Ian Atkins and destruction of the squad.

So, Dave, you're through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final this weekend. It's a competition where Carlisle have had had good success in, in the past. You must really enjoy it?

This is, I think, my 28th consecutive match in the competition. Since 1995, I think I've only missed six JPT matches - and most of them were because of a two year spell where I was working and couldn't get to games.

However, I'll usually go whether it's as part of an 800 crowd at Accrington, a trek to Chesterfield or a short trip to Morecambe. I just enjoy cup games on the whole so I go to most of them whether they're the League Cup, FA Cup or JPT.

I find cup games have a different aspect to them than league games. In a league match making sure you don't get beaten seems to be the sole main priority these days. Get a win if you can, but first make sure you don't lose.

When it's a cup game though, teams try to win. Even if you're playing away to a side two leagues higher you can see your club have a go and there's no pressure on losing the game.

Mid-table Carlisle United are looking forward to a trip to Wembley

I can enjoy a drama, stressed-filled second leg of the area final clinging onto a desperate lead as much as a first round game when you can sit in comfort with a small number of fans, no pressure, and just enjoy the game.

What do you make to sides then who don't the JPT seriously as a competition? Does it just add extra cup games that only generate money when you get to the final? Or can it liven up a mid-table campaign - as Carlisle are having?

On the club side of things, finances is what makes me wonder why clubs don't take it seriously, especially these days when finances are so tight.

I think we're going to make about £300,000 from the match, can many clubs in Leagues One and Two afford to toss that into the nearest dustbin?

I have also always thought cup games don't affect league performances. We have on three occasions got to the JPT final and also won promotion.

Birmingham, Bristol Rovers and MK Dons are all other examples I can think of who've done the same. Many losing area finalists also go up in the same season.

My main reason for the competition is because it's a memory. You can follow a side for 20 years and get good games and bad, but you only get a few lifetime memories in football.

This is what these days are for - memories you can look back on in five, 10, 20 years. I can still remember going to Wembley in the 1994 final.

I can still remember the trips to Cardiff - the Millennium Stadium, the match day, the whole weekend. These are things you can look on and say you where there.

Let's talk about your manager, Greg Abbott. He kept you up last season, he's got you into the top half this term, and through to the JPT Final too. He must be popular with the fans?

Considering achievement-wise he's done probably better than most in League One, he's not that popular.

The Wembley trip and a couple of recent wins will certainly buy him time to get to the summer and try again, but he's been up and down.

Certainly, I'd be honest and say he's done better this season than last. Last term was horrendous.

He inherited a squad with no morale and no teamwork - added nothing and then annoyed fans with stupid comments, bad interviews, and poor signings. How he survived to this season I am unsure, as no fans wanted him.

Boss Greg Abbott has taken the Cumbrians to the Final in his first full season

This season has been a mixed bag. I think on two occasions he has been just a defeat away from the sack with 95 per cent of the fans wanting him ousted. Only for him to then get the vital win at the right time to keep him plugging along.

The cup runs have been his saving grace this year - giving fans big days out to look forward to and also making the club about £500,000.

That's probably made a few fans warm to him, but I don't we're much better than last season, the league is just much, much worse.

We secured survival to me last midweek [a 1-0 win over Yeovil] so he should fair better come the end of the season. His away tactics are terrible though - he likes to go for a 0-0 draw away from home.

They just don't make you want to go and watch us away from Brunton Park. Plus, we have needed a big, stronger striker for about two years and then, finally, after a year of rubbish we find in Vincent Pericard.

When he went though, he didn't bring in a replacement having said he would do. Now he's been forced to because of injuries, has brought in another striker who fits the bill and, hey presto, two wins in two since then!

It's these bits of bad management - like dropping one of our best players for nine games in-favour of his favourites - and terrible interviews which turn you against him.

He's got another season to try and win fans over though, so we'll see.

So, looking ahead to Sunday's final. Do you think you can cause an upset and beat Southampton?

Yes, I think we're destined to win this one. We are one win away from being the best Football League Trophy side ever. We have been in the most area finals with seven, the most finals with five, and just need to get joint-most wins.

Against us is a team with a lot of money, and we have not got a good final record.

Graham Kavanagh is one of the experienced heads in the Carlisle team

However, they've lost a few players and the big thing with our squad is that it's filled with ex-higher league players like Ian Harte, Scott Dobie, and Graham Kavanagh.

Wembley usually brings out the best of these players and if you can get them performing like they did in the prime, and then guys like Peter Murphy and Danny Livesey performing as they can - we have a strong side on the day.

Away from Sunday, ten years ago Carlisle were battling to stay in the Football League, now you're spending a fourth straight season in League One and only missed out on the Championship in the play-offs in 2008. Can you make the step-up to the second tier in the future.

No. Football has changed too much ow and it's who you have financially, rather than the size of club, which dictates how you do. We have no rich owner - just local businessmen who keep the club ticking over.

We have made a profit in about five out of the last six seasons, which is good, but the one bad season last year - when we made a loss - nearly crippled us.

We just don't have the backing to afford making huge financial losses over two to three season to build a top League One side.

Leagues One and Two will always be our level. However, considering in the last 20 years we've mostly been struggling in League Two, we've progressed.

Your club will always be famous for that Jimmy Glass in 1999 of course. Do you ever feel you could follow the Cumbrians for another 50 years but never experience a moment that will surpass that one.

I don't think so, because I think I've seen a couple of moment just as good.

In terms of the actual context then you're probably right. It will never happened again because it's a set-up that was once in a lifetime.

Jimmy Glass's goal - the most famous moment in League Two history?

Glass came in after the transfer deadline had passed due to our loan keeper at the time being recalled. This was the first ever 'emergency loan' used - and that rule only came in at the start of that very season.

Our game was also only still going after Scarborough's had finished because, by chance, a Plymouth player broke his leg during the game so this left us knowing what needed to be done.

All the situations just point to fate work a bit of magic to set up a moment that will never be repeated. However, the penalty shoot out at Aldershot was cracking drama.

We were 3-1 down with only two penalties left each. They had to miss both and did, we had to score both, and did. Then we won in sudden death.

Matt Glennon's injury time penalty save at Mansfield which stopped us being relegated - for that weekend at least - had the same impact at the time.

The Jimmy Glass moment will always be looked back on though because it was the right moment at the right time with a unique set-up and the perfect conclusion.

You've seen your team play in three different divisions over a long period of time. How do you think the game in the lower leagues has developed both on and off the pitch over that time?

Facilities would be the main thing. When I started going, away ends were a scabby bit of terrace with a toilet that was a wall with a gutter at the bottom. The food was non-existent and you were lucky to ever get away seats.

Grounds have drastically changed. I missed a lot of the character of the old grounds - and were tied to their own clubs and felt like they were their grounds - but the facilities were shocking.

Carlisle's Brunton Park is a unique mix of the old and new in football stadia

As for the football, well, it's improved a lot to be fair. In the early 90s it was a long ball era of sides who came to your ground to sit back, whack your players to bits, and hoof the ball to a big lump up front to nod down to the faster player next to him.

Now, teams do try and play a passing game. It isn't always perfect, but teams do try and get some footballers in.

I do think wingers years ago were better than those these days. I think that is a general thing in football too as, because top sides have found foreigners better for the skillful positions, it's seen a drop in quality in those positions from the top flight youth players.

Which means less for us, better strikers and defenders have to look like The Incredible Hulk to succeed.

I think there are more tactics in the game now compared to back then, but I think teams are more negative these days than they were years ago.

Also, I think atmospheres were a lot better years ago and managers had more links to fans too because in them days managers were not sacked within a season.

Finally then, Dave, what's the best thing about being a Carlisle United fan?

This is going to be only the second time in 22 years I've seen us finish mid-table, and even then it's a season of big games, cup finals and exciting moments.

So, I'd say the fact the best thing is that, whether good or bad, we usually have something happen every season. Maybe they'll give me a heart attack one day, but it's better than having nothing to talk about during each season.

Dave, thanks for talking with us. Good luck on Sunday and for the rest of the season!