Why Huddersfield Town would welcome two more visits to Carlisle: Scott Arfield

Dec 11 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SCOTT ARFIELD would like nothing better than to make two trips to Carlisle early in the New Year – and it’s nothing to do with the Scottish midfielder getting closer to his homeland!

For Brunton Park, where Town are due on League I duty on Saturday, January 1, will be the venue for one of the two legs of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Northern final.

While Carlisle have already clinched their place with a 3-1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, Tuesday is the latest date for Town’s Northern semi-final showdown at Tranmere which has twice fallen victim to the big freeze.

And Arfield says he and his teammates are determined to remain fully focused on seeing off the Birkenhead side when the tie finally takes place.

“We all know what’s at stake,” said the 22-year-old close-season arrival, who represented Falkirk in the 2009 Scottish Cup final at Hampden, where Rangers won 1-0.

“Whoever gets through to face Carlisle will be within two matches of a trip to Wembley, and getting there would be fantastic for all concerned.

“There’s a way to go yet and we know Tranmere will be tough, but we believe we can go there and win.”

Should Town get that victory, they’ll play Carlisle four times in the first six weeks of 2011, having already won 1-0 at Brunton Park in the first round of the Carling Cup in August.

The League I game at the Galpharm takes place on Tuesday, February 1, with the two legs of the JPT area final on January 18 or 19 and February 8 or 9.

It would be the first time Town have played the same side five times in a season since 1987-88, when they had two old Second Division meetings with Manchester City and three in the FA Cup, and the first time they’ve visited the same ground three times since 1963-64, when they went to Plymouth in the Second Division, the League Cup and the FA Cup.