Paul Simpson hopes this will be the season that Carlisle United banish their Harrogate Town jinx.

Despite promotion taking the Blues out of their bogey side’s division, they will still face them twice in cup competitions in 2023/24.

The Yorkshire side were drawn in United’s EFL Trophy group – and Carlisle were then handed a trip to the EnviroVent Stadium in the Carabao Cup first round.

It will give the Blues two more opportunities finally to defeat a side who have plagued United in recent times.

Carlisle have never beaten Harrogate, losing five and drawing two of their meetings, as well as suffering some bizarre postponements.

Their first chance to end the jinx will come in the first week of the new campaign in the League Cup.

“I always have this view that you can’t carry on losing against teams – at some point it’s got to change,” said Simpson.

“I’ve got to be honest – I wasn’t very happy when I saw the draw. But it’s a great game to look forward to.

“Just like every game, we’re going to go and try and win there, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s going to be a tough game, I’m quite sure of that, because they have had something over us.”

Harrogate took four points off United in League Two last season, drawing 3-3 in Yorkshire then winning 1-0 at Brunton Park.

Simpson has said in the past that he does not believe in “bogey” teams.

And, speaking at United’s recent fans’ forum, recalled past discussions on the subject at Brunton Park.

“I always remember the first time I was here and our doctor, Doc Haworth, used to come in on a Friday morning when we were travelling away from home,” he said.

“I’d come in from training and say, ‘Hi Doc, ready for the journey?’ and he’d say, ‘Ooh, not looking forward to this one’ – and he used to say it before every trip.

“Eventually I said, ‘Right doc, you’re gonna have to shut your mouth now because we’re the only team that’s got 91 bogey teams’.

“Thankfully it’s just Harrogate at the moment and hopefully we’ll get rid of that one.”