If either club has a score to settle when they meet at Brunton Park this weekend then that open wound belongs to Carlisle, but their manager's overriding memory of Leeds is not of the goal from Jonathan Howson which carried his team-mates into the League One play-off final but rather the quality of football seen last season during four gripping matches against the Elland Road side.

Both Leeds and Carlisle won twice and lost twice, but the most significant result was the 2-0 victory achieved by Leeds in Cumbria during the second leg of their play-off semi-final. Howson's left-footed finish in the 90th minute took Leeds to Wembley and sent Carlisle away on holiday, the two clubs conclusively separated by a narrow margin.

Ward's disappointment was understandable but at no stage of the summer did he allow the semi-final result to become all-consuming.

"I don't like the idea of settling scores or looking for revenge, and I wouldn't want my players talking like that either," he said.

"The spirit in which our games with Leeds were played last season was excellent, even after that dramatic night in the play-offs. Our players took the defeat on the chin but I thought Leeds were magnanimous and humble as well.

"There's no bitterness on my part whatsoever.

"If you love football as much I do, you have to show appreciation for good football matches, and there was something about our matches last season which brought out the best out of both clubs.

"Sometimes results go against you but you should be honest enough to acknowledge a talented team and an honest contest. There has to be a loser in the play-offs.

"I like the way Leeds play and, as far as I was concerned, they deserved their place in the play-off final. We went home disappointed yet very proud of what we'd achieved as a club. It would be very sad if we were bitter about that.

"But it's 2-2 between us and there's everything to play for again. I hope we'll get another great advert for League One this weekend."

Carlisle were joint leaders before their defeat to Scunthorpe United on Saturday, a position which answered the doubt over how well the Cumbrian club would recover from their near-miss in May.

Their position in the top six and, for a while, the top two last season was achieved with a relatively small squad, and the reluctant sale in the summer of goalkeeper Kieran Westwood to Coventry City and striker Joe Garner to Nottingham Forest did not help consolidate their pool of players.

But, far from losing their footing, Carlisle have moved forward in familiar fashion.