Rovers welcome Carlisle United to Nailsworth this weekend, with the hosts looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run on Saturday afternoon.

Here is all you need to know about the visiting Cumbrians ahead of the match.

MEET THE MANAGER: KEITH MILLEN

Keith Millen spent 11 years at Brentford as a player, making over 300 appearances for the West London side as a central defender. 

After leaving the Bees in 1994, he spent five years at Watford before moving to Bristol City and entering the coaching scene there after retiring from playing.

He’s been caretaker manager at Bristol City, Crystal Palace and MK Dons in the past, with 17 years experience as coach, including a spell as manager of Swedish team Orgryte IS before replacing Chris Beech at Carlisle.

Millen was appointed as Carlisle United manager in October 2021, with six wins, four draws and losses from 16 games making up the 55-year-old’s managerial record there so far. 

His side currently sit third in the League Two form table, with three wins from their last five games, but as for the main division standings, Carlisle are in 19th place.

KEY PLAYER: Jordan Gibson

Former Rangers youth player, Jordan Gibson signed for Carlisle at the start of the season after spending time playing in Ireland with Sligo Rovers, and St Patrick’s Athletic.

Gibson’s return to England has been a prosperous one so far, with the winger the top scorer for Millen’s side so far this season, with four goals in the league, and six across all competitions.

The 23-year-old can play through the middle, and on either side of the pitch, but is most comfortable on the right flank as an attacking threat.

FORM - DDWWW

11/12/21 - Stevenage 0-2 Carlisle

01/01/22 - Scunthorpe 0-1 Carlisle

08.01.22 - Carlisle 2-0 Bradford City

15.01.22 - Carlisle 1-1 Crawley

18.01.22 - Carlisle 0-0 Hartlepool

LAST TIME OUT:

Saturday’s visitors were last in action on Tuesday night, playing out a 0-0 draw with Hartlepool United at Brunton Park.

Carlisle were unlucky not to win the game, having tested the Pools with 17 shots throughout the 90 minutes and Brennan Dickenson’s free-kick hitting the crossbar. 

Recent signing Omari Patrick made his first start for the club since joining them at the start of January for the striker’s second spell with the Cumbrians.

Patrick, Callum Guy and Jordan Gibson all forced Hartlepool ‘keeper Ben Kilip into action in the first half, before the visitors came into the game more after the half-time break.

Carlisle shot stopper Mark Howard denied Hartlepool from gaining only their second away league win of the season, with great saves late on to keep out David Ferguson and Reagan Ogle, earning Howard his fourth clean sheet in five games, and extending Carlisle’s unbeaten run to five games too.

LAST TIME WE MET:

Back in early October, 2021, Rovers beat a struggling Carlisle by two goals to nil away from home, extending the unbeaten run to five matches for Edwards’ side at the time.

Jamille Matt scored in the 29th minute to give the visitors the lead - the striker firing home at the back post following a dangerous corner from Ben Stevenson.

Just three minutes later Nicky Cadden unleashed a fantastic strike into the bottom right corner to double his side’s lead.

Rovers comfortably saw the game out, finishing the day as League Two leaders, with Carlisle lacking a killer instinct in front of goal.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

Since being promoted into the Football League, Forest Green and Carlisle have met 11 times across both League Two and the FA Cup.

The record between the two sides is quite an even one, with four wins and four losses for Rovers, with three draws too.

FGR have won the last three matches against the Cumbrians, and will be looking to secure another victory on Saturday afternoon at the Fully Charged New Lawn.