On Saturday, Mark Hughes’ Carlisle United side travel to Glanford Park to take on Andy Butler’s unbeaten Scunthorpe United side. The newly promoted side have got off to flying start on their return to the National League and after a couple of bad results Carlisle got back to winning ways in midweek so it should be a hard fought contest.
The game is the 5.30pm kick off with extended coverage on DAZN and with both sides near the top of the table it promises to be a cracker.
How Have Both Teams Been Performing?
Scunthorpe have eleven points from their last five games and are unbeaten so far this season. They have picked up impressive away victories over York and Southend as well as holding top of the league Forest Green to a draw away from home. They have also beaten Truro comfortably and drawn with Hugh flying Boreham Wood at home in those games.
Scunthorpe are in 4th place in the National League and have games in hand on everyone around them, if they win those games in hand they can go top of the league.
Carlisle have nine points from their last five games and are in third place in the National League. The Cumbrians have wins over Aldershot, Altrincham and most recently Hartlepool in those five games but they also have a heavy defeat to York and a home defeat to Rochdale in those five games as well.
This will be a tough test once again for Mark Hughes’ side and to see if they can be the ones to break Scunthorpe’s unbeaten run.
Players To Watch
Alfie Beestin
Beestin is the man in form right now. The 28-year-old has scored two huge goals in their last two games and has played an important role in their big victories away to Southend and York. His runs from midfield and eye for goal will be something Carlisle’s defence will have to keep a close eye on, especially with the form he is in.
Callum Roberts
Roberts is a player that can play anywhere across the front line and will look to link up play with the other forwards. He will look to get shot off when he can but will also try to put balls in to danger areas for the other forwards. The 28-year-old has two goals and five assists to his name already this season.
Danny Whitehall
Whitehall is Scunthorpe’s main goal threat and is their top scorer so far this season with six goals and he has two assists to go with those goals. The 29-year-old takes most set pieces and can score all types of goals, he already this season has scored tap ins, penalties and long range free kicks.
Declan Howe
Howe is another of Scunthorpe’s main goal threats. The striker has five goals so far this season and has that striker instinct to know where the ball will drop and the ability to take his chances. Scunthorpe have goals all over the pitch so Carlisle’s defence will need to be on the top of its game in this one.
Another player to watch out for is former Carlisle United striker Mark Beck, he may impact the game from the bench at some point.
My Predicted Carlisle United Starting Eleven
Breeze, Davies, Feeney, Thomas, Harper, Ellis, Gilliead, Wearne, Luamba, Linney, Armstrong.
I think Wednesday showed that this is the formation that works for us. Hughes won’t want to change too much from a winning team unless he has to.
Centre back is tough to predict with Mugabi and Thomas both being taken off injured against Hartlepool but hopefully one of them can make it. Feeney was impressive when he came on against Hartlepool and should start this game regardless of fitness.
Midfield still worries me, the better opposition have exploited that but I think the three Hughes usually goes with is our best three.
I think Armstrong will come in for Kelly despite Kelly playing really well against Hartlepool, I just think he can’t play two games so close together but could impact the game off the bench.
My Score Prediction
Scunthorpe United 3-1 Carlisle United
It’s going to be another tough away game, Hartlepool was good to get back to winning ways but the two games previously when we came up against good opposition we were comfortably beaten and I think this game could be very similar.
I have worries about us defensively although that is helped if Feeney starts and in midfield compared to the top teams in the league we are relatively lightweight and could be exposed again.
I hope I’m wrong.
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