STUTTERING Carlisle United will be aiming to get their play-off challenge back on track against York City at Brunton Park tonight (7.45pm).

The Cumbrians still lie second in the Conference table but a clutch of clubs are queuing up behind them with eighth-placed Stevenage Borough just three points adrift.

Following a run of six successive wins, Paul Simpson's men have taken just one point from their last two matches and failed to find the net in both games.

In fact, Carlisle only managed one shot in Saturday's dismal 1-0 home defeat against relegation-threatened Forest Green Rovers after also firing blanks in a 0-0 draw at Hereford United. Simpson has hinted at changes as Carlisle, relegated from the Football League with the Minstermen last season, look to keep alive their hopes of bouncing back at the first attempt.

Right-winger Brendan McGill is fit again after a one-month lay-off because of a hamstring injury and could return to the starting line up while goalkeeper Matty Glennon's place is under threat after his mistake gifted Forest Green victory and on-loan Leeds United shot-stopper Willie Coyles could be given his debut.

Kieran Westwood has also been preferred to Glennon between the sticks this season but is currently recovering from a rib injury.

Ex-Minsterman left-back Tom Cowan is likely to face his former club, who will be bidding for their first double of the season having beaten Carlisle 2-1 at KitKat Crescent in November.

Carlisle v City match points

Carlisle United v City

In the Football League, City made 40 visits to Brunton Park winning seven times and drawing 15.

The last eight trips have resulted in four wins and two draws.

In 1992/93 Nigel Pepper (penalty) and Jon McCarthy scored in a 2-1 victory and in a similar scoreline in 1997/98 Andy McMillan and Alan Pouton were on target.

John Williams netted the only goal of the game in 1999/2000 and on the opening day of last season Lee Bullock and Lee Nogan were the marksmen in a 2-1 success.

The line-up on August 9, 2003 was: Ovendale, Edmondson, Wise, Brass, Hope (Wood), Merris, Ward, Fox (Cooper), Dunning, Bullock, Nogan.

City's heaviest League defeats on this ground were 5-1 in 1932/33 and 4-0 in 1934/35 and 1963/64.

In the last 13 League games between the clubs since 1997 (home and away) and including this season's Conference encounter, City have won seven times with five draws. The solitary defeat was in September 2001 when they went down 2-1 at Carlisle.

Among the players to have represented both clubs are Gordon Staniforth, Keith Walwyn, Paul Baker, Scott Endersby, Dave McAughtrie, Gordon Connelly, Jon McCarthy, Tom Cowan and Darren Edmondson.

It Happened on April 12

1958: The last season of regionalised League football and City were maintaining their last-ditch effort to avoid becoming founder members of Division Four. Ernie Wardle scored the only goal in a win over Rochdale at Bootham Crescent in front of 5,123.

1963: A Good Friday fixture at home to Fourth Division leaders Brentford ended 1-1 watched by 7,904. Jack Fountain was the scorer for City.

1971: A 1-1 draw at Chester with Paul Aimson on target. It was the 15th game without defeat and City moved up to third in Division Four.

1974: Ian Holmes (penalty) and Chris Jones scored in a 2-1 Good Friday home win over Huddersfield Town. The attendance was 9,938 and City were third in the old Third Division.

1975: West Brom won 3-1 at Bootham Crescent in the old Division Two. Making his League debut that day for the Baggies was 18-year-old Bryan Robson. Jimmy Seal netted for City in front of 8,181.

1993: A Paul Barnes goal earned City the points at Halifax and moved them up to second in Division Three.

2003: City were seventh in Division Three following a 2-2 home draw with Rochdale. Keith Graydon (penalty) and Darren Edmondson scored and the attendance was 3,966.

Compiled by David Batters

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, April 12, 2005