HISTORY LESSON BY DAVID BROOME

■OVERALL RECORD

In 23 games played between Derby County and Carlisle United, the Rams have won nine and drawn six, with eight defeats.

■RECENT PAST

Derby’s final game of the season comes against a Carlisle side against whom they have a very ‘streaky history’. They lost only one of their first seven meetings with the Cumbrians but then went on a 13-game, 25-year run of winless encounters, most of which they lost.

They have not tasted defeat in the past five clashes, however, including winning the most recent four.

Earlier this season, when the teams met in the League for the first time in nearly 40 years, the Rams won 2-0 at Brunton Park thanks to a James Collins brace.

Derby also won two League Cup meetings in 2014 and 2016, the former 2-0 away, with Jeff Hendrick and Chris Martin on the scoresheet, and the latter after a memorable penalty shoot-out at Pride Park Stadium.

After Darren Bent and Mike Jones shared goals in a 1-1 draw, the match went to spot-kicks, and the teams could still not be separated long after the regulation five penalties.

In total, 32 spot-kicks had to be taken before Derby emerged 14-13 victors.

Several players took two penalties, with Tom Ince, Nick Blackman, Danny Butterfield, Richard Keogh and Timi Max Elsnik each scoring both their kicks.

Will Hughes also took two but missed his first before scoring his second. Even goalkeeper Scott Carson stepped up and scored. It was Solvenian midfielder Elsnick, on his debut, who netted the winning penalty to send Derby through.

■EARLY DAYS

Carlisle must have been sick of the sight of the Rams in the mid-1950s, as the first three meetings between the sides, within the space of a year, all ended in 3-0 defeats for the Cumbrians.

The Rams also won the fourth meeting 3-1.

Tommy Powell and Jesse Pye were on target in the first encounter between the teams, the latter scoring a brace.

Former England striker Pye joined the Rams from Luton Town in 1954 and netted more than 25 goals in his time with the club. The ex-Wolves stalwart earned his solitary cap for the Three Lions in 1949 against Ireland in a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park.