Preview: Carlisle United vs. MK Dons - prediction, team news, lineups

Carlisle United square off against MK Dons on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that would move them off the bottom of the League Two table.

Meanwhile, MK Dons make the long trip North requiring a victory to remain within touching distance of the playoff positions.

Match preview

© Imago

When being appointed as Carlisle boss in September, Mike Williamson would have been aware of the task in hand as he bid to keep the club in the fourth tier as a bare minimum.

However, the former defender would not have expected to record just four wins from his first 21 matches in charge, 11 of those games ending in defeat.

To his and his team's credit, just four losses have come from the most recent 10 league outings, never going down by more than a two-goal margin.

Nevertheless, last weekend's 1-0 reverse at Tranmere Rovers has left Carlisle sitting six points adrift of safety courtesy of the recent results of the four teams above the relegation zone.

Although just two victories have been recorded in 12 league fixtures at Brunton Park this campaign, they did overcome Accrington Stanley over the Christmas and New Year period.

© Imago

Williamson is facing his former club MK Dons for the first time since his move and he will be quietly confident of earning something from the game.

MK Dons have collected just four points from their last six matches in League Two, the most recent of four defeats coming by a 1-0 scoreline at home to Salford City.

Positives will be taken from that contest, while Scott Lindsey will not over-react with four points coming from the previous two encounters with Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield respectively.

Furthermore, MK Dons have recorded four victories from their last five away contests in this division, albeit the defeat that they suffered to Newport County seeing them concede six times.

Team News

© Imago

Harrison Neal and Daniel Adu-Adjei are both pushing for recalls to the Carlisle XI.

With Callum Whelan having recently been signed from Gateshead and slotted into the engine room last time out, Harrison Biggins is at risk of losing his place.

Meanwhile, Scott Hogan may be recalled to the MK Dons attack in place of Ellis Harrison, with both forwards having only netted three times in the league this season.

The rest of the team could stay the same unless Tom Carroll is drafted back into the midfield.

Carlisle United possible starting lineup: Breeze; Hayden, Lavelle, Mellish; Sadi, Neal, Whelan, Harper; Embleton, Harris; Armstrong

MK Dons possible starting lineup: McGill; Offord, Lawrence, Sherring; Nemane, White, Kelly, Tomlinson; Hendry, Gilbey; Hogan

We say: Carlisle United 1-2 MK Dons

Given MK Dons' poor run of form, Carlisle will be optimistic of earning at least a share of the spoils. However, we feel that the visitors will do enough to scrape maximum points here, even if it is in a war of attrition.

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