By Jon Colman

Last updated 12:09, Monday, 01 December 2008

Carlisle United today insisted they will do everything to beat the freeze and get Wednesday’s FA Cup clash with Crewe on to avoid a potentially crippling fixture backlog.

Plummeting temperatures in the city have put the second round tie with the Railwaymen at risk.

Today’s scheduled 2pm reserve game against Accrington Stanley at Brunton Park was also subject to a morning pitch inspection, although United insisted they were “80-90% confident” it would be on.

But it is the prospect of a postponement on Wednesday that most concerns the club and managing director John Nixon said he was hopeful the game would survive the freezing conditions.

“All efforts are being made to ensure Wednesday’s game goes ahead,” said Nixon.

“The pitch has been covered at the particularly bad area in the goalmouth at the Warwick Road End.

“We have to hope the temperatures change somewhat. It appears it is going to get a bit warmer in the next couple of days and it would help to get some sun on it.”

Wednesday’s game is already taking place later than the other second round ties because of United’s recent abandoned first round replay at Grays due to a floodlight failure. Greg Abbott’s side finally saw off the non-league side 2-0 in Saturday’s rearranged game.

And if the Crewe game has to be postponed this week, Carlisle will have to fit an extra game into their busy winter schedule - with the possibility of a replay also being added to the calendar.

The worst-case scenario is that United would have to play EIGHT league and cup games in 29 days, with a third round trip to Millwall on January 3 the prize for United or Crewe.

On today’s reserve clash – set to feature new loan signing Chris Birchall, Czech trialist midfielder Jakub Hottek and fit-again defender Peter Murphy – Nixon added: “We are very hopeful. The pros have been on the pitch and it is taking a stud. Greg has to be happy that it is not going to put his players at risk and at the moment we are 80-90 per cent confident it will be on.”

Nixon said a decision would be made by 11am, before Accrington were due to set off for Cumbria.

Abbott was today set for further talks with Coventry in an attempt to have Birchall available for the second round cup tie.

Winger Simon Hackney is facing a race against time to be fit for Wednesday after missing Saturday’s victory with a calf injury, but Paul Thirlwell is likely to return.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi was at Grays to watch United finally overcome the Blue Square Premier strugglers at the third attempt through Danny Graham and Graham Kavanagh in front of 1,217 fans in Essex.

It was United’s first away win in any competition since the Carling Cup triumph at Shrewsbury in August. “At times it wasn’t pretty, but that’s what the FA Cup is all about when you come to lower league sides.

“You have to match them for effort first. We did that and I thought we were deserved winners,” said Abbott, who included youth team stars Tom Aldred and Jonny Blake among his subs for the first time, and saw fit-again pair Chris Lumsdon and Scott Dobie come off the bench in the second half.

•  United have announced reduced ticket prices for the Crewe game – adults will pay £10 to stand and £12 for a seat.