Last updated 11:49, Thursday, 04 September 2008

DAVID RAVEN is looking forward to getting one over Southend on Saturday after enduring the worst moment of his career against The Shrimpers last season.

Off you go: David Raven sees red in Carlisle United’s 2-1 defeat to Southend last season

The Carlisle United right-back still has bitter memories of the last time the two sides met as he was sent off for the first time in his career.

United were drawing 1-1 at the time and starting to stamp some authority on the game, but Raven’s controversial dismissal – a straight red on 67 minutes for a challenge on Nicky Bailey – changed the whole game and ended in a damaging 2-1 defeat.

The defeat cost them vital ground in the promotion race and forced their talented right-back to sit out three of the last four games of the season.

Victory on Saturday would be extra sweet for Raven who has been in outstanding form in United’s unbeaten start in League One.

The former Liverpool trainee said: “I’ve bad memories of Southend asit ended my season last year. It was very harsh but we decided it wasn’t worth appealing in case I got a lengthier ban.

“It was two tackles after another and when I went in for the second one the lad went down like he’d been shot, as far as I was concerned.

“We were starting to get on top at that point in the game. Going down to ten men changed the game and losing the game cost us vital points so the sending off was quite pivotal.”

Southend have won only one of their opening four games but Raven reckons that counts for nothing as he expects Steve Tilson’s side to be fighting it out for promotion again this season – just as they did last term when they reached the play-offs.

The Essex club have been boosted by the arrival of experienced former Crystal Palace star Dougie Freedman, who spent last season on loan at Leeds United and was Carlisle’s chief tormentor in three meetings last season.

Saturday’s home game kicks off a tough spell for United – boosted by three wins and a draw in their first four league games – who then face Scunthorpe, Leeds United, Walsall, Tranmere and MK Dons.

Raven said: “Playing the likes of Southend are the games you want to win because you know they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season because they’re a strong side.

“Dougie Freedman will be a good signing for them – and he likes to score against us so it will be nice to keep him quiet. He’s a good player and will always be a threat.

“But we’ve taken a lot of heart from our start to the season and it would be nice to get more points on the board, especially when you see the run of games coming up.

“There are some tough ones coming up but it will be good for us. They are games we’ve got to come out of with some points.”