Carlisle United have the opportunity to forget their League Two troubles on November 6 when they play a home tie in the first round of the FA Cup.
They have been drawn against Horsham of the Isthmian League’s Premier Division after the West Sussex based side beat Woking by 1-0 in the final qualifying round on Saturday.
Like Carlisle, Horsham have been struggling in the League and are also lying second bottom, with their best performances coming in the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup.
Carlisle’scaretaker boss Gavin Skelton told the club’s website: “You always want to be drawn at home and that’s something that hasn’t happened for us too much in recent seasons.
“Horsham have had some good results to get this far and they’ll want to carry that on. Woking are two divisions above them and that in itself is an excellent result – particularly when it’s reported that they were missing some key players.
“It’s one we can look forward to and it goes without saying that we’ll approach it in the correct manner.
“Of course there’s a lot of football for us between now and then, so that’s where our focus will and has to be at this moment in time.”
Although second-best for practically all of the game on Saturday, the Blues gave an improved performance against Tranmere at Brunton Park before losing 1-0. An own goal by McDonald proved to be the match winner for the Merseysiders, although new Carlisle keeper Mark Howard did have to save a penalty to keep it at 1-0.
Assessing the game Skelton said: “It’s frustrating and disappointing. I don’t think there was too much in the game. We expected that, and we had a lot of attempts but didn’t work their keeper or get them on target enough.
“That’s the confidence thing, we had crosses but didn’t have the conviction or belief to work the keeper and punish them.
“We were pleased to get to half-time all-square, and we actually could have been in front in the first 15 or 20 minutes. We spoke about starting again and making sure that we played at a good tempo.
“That’s their first away goal, an own-goal, and that’s the way it’s going for us at the moment. But the lads have got to dress themselves down, we all do, because there are a lot of positives to come out of it in terms of their effort, commitment and how they stuck together.
“Once we get a goal, I know we keep saying it, but it’ll change. People might not believe it, but it does.
“A lot of it is in the head. They’re disappointed in the dressing room. If we ask if they could have given any more – I don’t think they could have given any more.
“It’s just that final bit, the ball bobbling around the box, someone to go and smash it, a midfielder drives through and instead of just smashing it and seeing what could happen, their goal comes from a cross, an own-goal. It’s that type of thing.
“When we got our chances we wanted it to be perfect, and we were a bit edgy. In situations players have to stand up and be counted. They’re the only ones that can turn it, assisted by us. If they keep working hard and believe that they’re the ones that can turn it around, it will happen for them.
“I thought it was a first goal game. I felt we were in control in the first half but we knew they might have a bit of possession the way they play and set up and it turned out like that.
“But we didn’t feel under any danger, and that showed with how many attempts at goal they had first half. We started well with a couple of shots but we need to build that momentum, and pressure, to really get the crowd behind us, and that’s where the players will get the confidence to grow.
“Like I say, we spoke at half-time about how we were pleased with the performance, and we thought we’d get the first goal and kick on from there.
“Tranmere are a good side, you could see that, unfortunately they’ve got a goal from an own goal and it’s backs to the walls a bit in terms of that confidence. We had a wobble for three or four minutes after that and the penalty is a great save by Mark [Howard].
“We composed ourselves a bit but we come back to the same thing, it’s the confidence that isn’t quite there at the moment. When driving through have a shot, don’t drop it off to somebody, when a cross is coming in, go and attack it, don’t wait on anybody else.
“They really are small margins and unfortunately we’ve come out on the wrong end of it. Just from what we’re talking about here you can tell we had plenty of action round the box, without that quality we needed.
“The lads are wanting it to be perfect, not to make a mistake. Fortune favours the brave sometimes, sometimes just lash it and it’ll go in the top corner, or ricochet into the goal like it did for them. They wanted to do everything so right, things sometimes go wrong because they’re trying for it to be so perfect.”
Meanwhile the latest name emerging as a front-runner for the vacant manager’s job at Brunton Park is current Livingstone number two, Marvin Bartley. A former Hobs midfielder has not hidden his desire to be his own man one day – will it be at Carlisle.
But there is another new name on the list, current Liverpool Under-23’s coach Barry Lewtas, while ex-Colchester boss John McGriel still looks a strong candidate.