Preview: Brackley Town vs Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

Aiming to quickly bounce back from their first defeat of the season in the National League at the weekend, Carlisle United will travel to St James Park to take on Brackley Town on Wednesday.

The visitors saw a strong start to the campaign halted on Saturday after suffering relegation from League Two, while their hosts sit 10th after five outings in the midst of a three-match unbeaten run.

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Match preview

Brackley Town return to action on Wednesday aiming to extend an unbeaten streak and get back to winning ways in the National League.

After winning promotion and the National League North title last time around, the Saints have enjoyed a creditable start to their first-ever season in England's fifth tier, earning eight points from their first five attempts.

They began with home victories over Eastleigh and Rochdale either side of an away defeat to Yeovil Town, before recording a first point on the road in a 1-1 draw away at Tamworth.

Gavin Cowan's side then hosted Scunthorpe United at the weekend and extended an undefeated home record, sharing the points in a 1-1 draw in dramatic fashion having trailed to a Danny Whitehall goal before Danny Waldron levelled the game in the 98th minute.

Now aiming to build on that late snatching of a point and continue a strong run of form at St James Park, Brackley Town will bid to make it three wins and 11 points from six National League outings on Wednesday.

They face a tough test, though, as the visitors aim to bounce back from a defeat at the weekend and reignite their title charge.

After suffering relegation out of England's top four tiers for the first time since 2005 last time around, Carlisle United set out to bounce back at the first time of asking under the management of Mark Hughes and made a strong start, collecting 11 points from their first five attempts.

That began with an opening-day victory and back-to-back draws, before the Cumbrians scraped past Wealdstone and dished out a 5-0 beating at home to Braintree Town thanks to Regan Linney's hat-trick, Jack Ellis's late finish and a Kyle Smith own goal.

Then aiming to continue their unbeaten start, Hughes's men most recently visited Sutton United on Saturday, but they left empty-handed with Georgie Kelly's injury-time goal coming too late to spark a turnaround after Edon Pruti and David Ogbonna had the hosts 2-0 up.

They will now bid to put that disappointment behind them and make a swift return to winning ways on the road, as Carlisle United look to immediately establish themselves as frontrunners this season.

Brackley Town National League form:

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Brackley Town form (all competitions):

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Carlisle United National League form:

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Team News

Brackley Town should field a similar starting XI to the weekend's draw against Scunthorpe United, although Danny Waldron has a claim to come into the attack having scored their equaliser off the bench in that game.

Chesterfield loanee Bailey Hobson will also hope to earn a start, while Connor Hall is bound to keep his place in the front line after topping their scoring charts with 18 goals last season.

Veteran captain Gareth Dean remains a key man in defence after leading them to promotion and will again be joined at the back by Kyle Morrison and Zak Lilley.

Mark Hughes may opt to make changes to his Carlisle United side following the weekend's defeat, with Elliot Embleton, Jordan Jones and Charlie Wyke likely remaining confined to the treatment room, while Alex Gilliead may not be ready to feature having only arrived on loan from Shrewsbury Town late on Monday.

Regan Linney is bound to continue in the attack, having already scored five goals in six league appearances for the Cumbrians following a summer switch from Altrincham, for whom he netted 23 National League goals last time around.

David Ajiboye and Georgie Kelly will compete for the other two spots up top after Luke Armstrong and Callum Whelan got the nod on Saturday, while Joshua Grant provides competition for Stephen Wearne, Harvey Macadam and Jack Ellis in midfield.

Brackley Town possible starting lineup:

Maxted; Morrison, Dean, Lilley; Lyttle, Byrne, Hobson, Haynes; Lowe, Roberts, Hall

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Breeze; Davies, Mugabi, Thomas, Harper; Macadam, Wearne, Ellis; Kelly, Armstrong, Linney

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We say: Brackley Town 1-2 Carlisle United

 

Despite Brackley Town's impressive adjustment to life in England's fifth tier, we back the visitors to make their abundance of quality count and get back to winning ways on Wednesday, handing the hosts a first defeat on their own turf this season in what should be a tight contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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