Preview: Carlisle United vs. Newport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Carlisle United will be aiming to clinch a fifth consecutive victory when they welcome Newport County to Brunton Park for a League Two contest on Tuesday.

The visitors, who sit in third place, are also enjoying a rich vein of form after avoiding defeat in their last seven games.

Match preview

After 31 league fixtures, Carlisle occupied a place in the relegation zone, but after picking up maximum points from their next four matches, they are now nine points clear of the bottom two.

They collected the latest of those victories at the weekend when they squeezed past Northampton Town in a contest that came to life in the closing stages.

Tobi Sho-Silva opened the scoring in the 74th minute to give the Cumbrians the lead, but Paul Lewis equalised just six minutes later before Jordan Gibson snatched all three points for Carlisle after scoring from the spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Having scored two goals in each of their last three outings, the Cumbrians will be confident that they can find the net on Tuesday.

If his team are to be successful against Newport, Paul Simpson will know his side cannot afford to fall behind as Carlisle have collected just four points from losing positions this season.

Newport County, meanwhile, currently occupy an automatic promotion spot thanks to a superior goal difference compared to fourth-placed Tranmere.

However, due to the close nature of the League Two table, the Exiles enter Tuesday's contest just two points clear of Bristol Rovers, who sit in eighth position.

Not only did an away win over Stevenage at the weekend extend Newport's unbeaten run to six matches, but it also represented back-to-back victories for the Exiles.

Rob Street gave Newport the lead against Stevenage in the 47th minute, before Ryan Haynes wrapped up the three points to keep James Rowberry's side on track for automatic promotion.

As they head on the road for another away trip, Newport will take inspiration from the fact that they hold the third-best away record in League Two.

Team News

Carlisle could be without the services of Jamie Devitt, who limped off at the weekend due to a hamstring injury.

Rodney McDonald and Brennan Dickenson returned from their respective injuries to feature on the bench on Saturday, with the former an unused substitute, while Dickenson could come into Tuesday's lineup after playing 30 minutes against Northampton.

Following his goal at the weekend, Sho-Silva may have earned himself a place in the Carlisle starting XI.

As for Newport, injury issues leaves them without the services of Josh Pask, Robbie Willmott, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Courtney Senior and Priestley Farquharson.

Oli Cooper is a doubt after missing Saturday's contest, but James Clarke will once again feature after returning from suspension against Stevenage.

Matthew Dolan and Haynes both made substitute appearances at the weekend, and they could come into the lineup for Tuesday's contest.

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Howard; Riley, Simeu, Feeney, Mellish, Armer; Gibson, Guy, Dickenson; Sho-Silva, Patrick

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Townsend; Norman, Demetriou, Clarke, Haynes; Dolan, Bennett, Azaz, Waite; Street, Telford

We say: Carlisle United 1-1 Newport County

The last two meetings between the sides have ended all square and with no team wanting to see their unbeaten run come to an end, we think Tuesday's contest may result in the spoils being shared.