Preview: Carlisle United vs. Port Vale - prediction, team news, lineups

Basement side Carlisle United will attempt to end their nine-game winless league run when they welcome Port Vale to Brunton Park on Monday.

The visitors, who occupy 14th place in the League One table, will have the chance to claim consecutive victories after easing past Blackpool in their most recent outing.

Match preview

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Having won just three of their 24 league games this season (D8, L13), Carlisle are currently propping up the League One table with six points separating them from safety.

The Cumbrians were unable to add to their 17-point tally in Friday's meeting with Wigan Athletic, which resulted in a disappointing 2-0 away defeat.

After falling to their fifth loss in six away league games, Carlisle will now return to Brunton Park, where they have collected just two points in their last four home matches in the third tier.

With their most recent home fixture resulting in a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town, the Cumbrians are at risk of losing consecutive home league games for the first time this season.

The hosts will hope that a new year brings about a change in fortunes, as they look to claim their first league win since beating Burton Albion on October 24.

Meanwhile, Port Vale will head into the new year in a buoyant mood after beating Blackpool 3-0 in their final outing of 2023.

Ben Garrity found the net in the 39th minute to give Port Vale a slender lead at the break, before James Wilson and Nathan Smith grabbed a goal apiece in the second period to wrap up a comfortable victory.

After winning three of their five league matches in December (D1, L1), Andy Crosby's side have now put a significant nine-point gap between themselves and the drop zone.

They will fancy their chances of adding three more points to their tally after claiming a narrow 1-0 win in their home meeting with Carlisle earlier this season.

The Valiants also enjoyed success on their most recent trip to Brunton Park in February 2022 when they recorded a 3-1 victory in a League Two encounter.

Team News

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The hosts are expected to go into the final match of the calendar year without the services of Paul Huntington, Fin Back and Callum Guy.

After dropping down to the bench on Friday, Tyler Charters could return to the starting lineup for Carlisle's first match of 2024.

Simpson could also decide to make a change up front, with the experienced Joe Garner in contention to lead the line against Port Vale.

Meanwhile, Port Vale can no longer call upon Ollie Arblaster, who was recently recalled by his parent club Sheffield United.

The Valiants remain without Josh Thomas, Mitchell Clark, Dan Jones, Tom Sang and Funso Ojo due to injury.

Sixteen-year-old Jake Shorrock played 78 minutes in his first league start on Friday, but he could be replaced by Conor Grant for Monday's contest, as Crosby looks to manage the youngster's minutes in the early stages of his senior career.

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Breeze; Emmanuel, Lavelle, Mellish, Armer; Maguire, McCalmont, Moxon, Robinson, Charters; Garner

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Lowe, Debrah, Smith; Lomax, Garrity, Devine, Grant; Wilson, Chislett; Ikpeazu

We say: Carlisle United 1-2 Port Vale

Having won three of their last five league games, Port Vale head into Monday's contest off the back of a positive run of results, and we think that they will claim another victory when they go up against a Carlisle side that has lost six of their previous nine matches in League One.

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