The Blues have been in League Two since suffering relegation from the third-tier back in 2014 and other than one play-off semi-final, they have never really come close to regaining promotion.
However, Chris Beech's men have been one of the standout teams in the division so far this campaign and while they have recently slid down the table due to barely playing for various reasons, they certainly still have a good chance of gaining promotion in May.
Carlisle currently sit in ninth place; however, they have played the fewest number of games in the fourth-tier (24) and only sit one point outside play-off places as well as being seven off top-spot with five games in hand on league leaders Cambridge United.
A solid defence
The Cumbrians have only conceded 23 league goals so far this season which is the second-fewest in the division behind Salford City and they have only let in more than two in a game on two occasions.
Beech did make changes to the back five over the summer with the additions of Paul Farman (goalkeeper), George Tanner (right-back) and Rod McDonald (left-back) all of whom have played plenty of games and contributed to a much-improved unit.
The rise of Jon Mellish
Even though the Cumbrians' strikers have often struggled for goals so far in this campaign, 23-year-old defensive-midfielder Jon Mellish seems to be netting on regular basis.
The former Gateshead player had only ever scored one league goal in 72 career appearances before the start of the 2020/21 season but so far in this one, he already has seven goals in 22 matches in League Two with three of them being match-winners.
Excellent record at Brunton Park
One of the main reasons the Blues have been in the play-off places for the majority of the season is down to their fantastic home form where they have gained 28 out of their 42 points.
The Cumbrians have won more games at home than any other team in League Two so far this campaign with nine out of 12 as well as scoring the joint-second most amount of goals in their own stadium.
If the Blues are able to keep their impressive home form going until the end of the season, there is no reason why they cannot end up gaining promotion to League One.