Carlisle United host Morecambe at Brunton Park in a huge festive clash in the race for EFL survival.
Victory will see second-bottom Carlisle move to within one point of survival depending on results elsewhere.
Morecambe can leapfrog their hosts with a win and move off the foot of the table.
Team News
Carlisle could welcome Callum Guy, Kadeem Harris and Ben Williams back into contention, having missed the goalless trip to Port Vale due to illness.
Georgie Kelly (calf) is a doubt for selection.
Josh Vela (calf), Dylan McGeouch, Terell Thomas (hamstring), Archie Davies (shoulder), Charlie Wyke (ankle) and Harry Lewis (unspecified) are still absent.
Morecambe have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 2-0 home loss to Bromley.
Stuart Moore, Lee Angol (both unspecified), Charlie Brown (hamstring), Gwion Edwards (ankle) and George Ray (fracture) are sidelined with various injuries.
When is Kick-Off?
Carlisle host Morecambe at Brunton Park on Boxing Day at 3pm GMT, live on Sky Sports + Red Button in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Carlisle have lost one of their last five league meetings against Morecambe (W2, D2, L1).
- Morecambe have avoided defeat in six of their last seven league visits to Carlisle (W2, D4, L1).
- Carlisle have conceded twice in two of their last three league games at home to Morecambe.
- Carlisle have kept just two clean sheets in ten home games this season in League Two.
- Morecambe have conceded seven goals in their last three league games (L3).
Prediction
Considered that this is a high-stakes festive showdown, Carlisle need to start converting more of their draws into wins if want to avoid consecutive relegations, but one loss in six games is a confidence boost coming into this must-win game.
I however do feel that this is already do-or-die for Morecambe because defeat and an Accrington win would leave them eight points from safety, so they need to show the away quality which saw them take 10 points in their last six on the road.
A draw won’t be ideal for both teams if Accrington win elsewhere so they both need to go for the win knowing a loss could be damaging, so I expect a scrappy contest and wouldn’t be surprised if this finishes goalless.
Prediction: Carlisle 0-0 Morecambe
Result: Carlisle 0-1 Morecambe
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