Newport County let the train take the strain for their longest League Two trip of the season.
The Exiles are in Carlisle after making the trip by train yesterday and staying overnight in the Cumbrian Town.
The hosts have suffered five successive home defeats at their Brunton Park Stadium including a 1-0 loss when they took on Yeovil Town.
A goal by former Cardiff City defender Tom James, who is from Taffs Well, decided the match when his 96th minutes free-kick was deflected into the net.
Carlisle are on their worst home run for 15 years and have failed to score in that run of five defeats.
County midfield player Matty Dolan is in happy mood after the birth of his baby daughter this week. He went to the hospital in Bristol immediately after Newport’s 1-1 home draw against Morecambe to be with his partner, Chloe.
“My partner delivered our little baby girl into the world on Sunday,” said the 25-year-old Dolan.
“It’s the best moment of my life and I’m really proud of her.”
“It was a special moment and one I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.
“I have to go out at Carlisle and put on a performance for my baby girl now.”
Manager Michael Flynn’s Newport are fourth in League Two even though they earned only one win in six matches during October.
Here's your @SkyBetLeagueTwo preview with @SportingLifeFC.
👉 https://t.co/TJ5AFu2WcX pic.twitter.com/JigBiwpdxV— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) November 1, 2018
“Carlisle are a well organised side and it’s always a tough place to go,” said Flynn. “It will be a tough game.
“We’ll have to work hard and battle hard. Our squad is quite thin at the minute, but we’ll fight for each other and we go to Carlisle in good spirits.”
Newport have a number of selection problems and Flynn could be without to seven players at Carlisle.
Mark O’Brien, Scot Bennett, Jamille Matt, Andrew Crofts and Tyreeq Bakinson were all rated doubtful this week, while Joss Labadie is still on his way back to full fitness after a knee ligaments operation.
Defender Fraser Franks completes his three-match ban by missing the long trip.
Flynn and his medical staff have talked about why there have been so many injuries and he says: “It’s something that we’re looking at. Why it’s happening.
“We had a meeting to try to get to the bottom of it with the medical staff.
“Sometimes you can’t put your finger on it, but sometimes there is data to prove why it’s happening and that’s what we’ve been looking at.”
Newport are on the road again next week when they travel to play Metropolitan Police FC away in the FA Cup first round.
Carlisle manager John Sheridan has a couple of injury concerns.
Sheridan did not face the media after their defeat against Yeovil Town, saying he was too ‘frustrated’ to talk, and assistant Tommy Wright took over.
Striker Hallam Hope and centre-back Tom Parkes are out through injury, whilst Danny Grainger and Jamie Devitt may have to settle for places among the substitutes having only recently returned to first-team action.
| P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Lincoln | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | +16 | 33 |
| 2 | MK Dons | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | +10 | 31 |
| 3 | Exeter | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | +11 | 29 |
| 4 | Newport Co | 16 | 8 | 5 | 3 | -3 | 29 |
| 5 | Colchester | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | +14 | 28 |