On Tuesday, Adam Lakeland brings his Halifax Town side to Brunton Park to take on Mark Hughes’ Carlisle United in the National League
Both teams have been in good form in the league as of late and both teams can score goals so this promises to be an excellent game of football.
How Have Both Teams Been Performing?
The Cumbrians last five National League games include a defeat to Rochdale, three wins against Hartlepool, Scunthorpe and Forest Green and a draw against Yeovil. Last time out Carlisle beat League One side Reading 3-2 after extra time in an FA Cup classic.
Carlisle United are currently in third place in the National League and are one point behind league leaders Rochdale
The Shaymen have also been in good form and in their last five National League fixtures they have wins of Aldershot, Rochdale and Brackley, they have a draw against York but they did also lose to struggling Truro. Last time out Halifax lost 2-0 at home to League One side Exeter City in the FA Cup
Halifax Town are currently in eighth place and are just two points outside the play off places in the National League.
Players To Watch
Owen Bray
The 22-year-old midfielder has had a great start to the season with Halifax and has shown a real eye for goal and has creativity that helps the attackers as well. He will be a live wire in the midfield and will look to get forward so the Carlisle midfield will have to keep track of his runs from there.
Bray has four goals and three assists so far this season and his goal count is already double of what he achieved last season.
Jamie Cooke
The 23-year-old midfielder has been a constant in recent years for the Shaymen, his creativity, football IQ and ability to thread a pass for the forwards is something that Halifax like to use a lot. He likes to keep the ball ticking over and tries to be the starting point of attacks for Adam Lakeland’s side.
Cooke has three goals and one assist so far this season in all competitions.
Will Harris
The 25-year-old striker is another of the in form Halifax forwards that will cause the Cumbrians problems here. He and David Kawa have linked up well this season and their goals have been integral in Halifax’s turnaround in fortunes since their poor start.
Harris has six goals and two assists in all competitions so far this season and has three goals and an assist in his last six games.
Josh Hmami
The 25-year-old midfielder is arguably Halifax’s most in form player right now, he has four goals in his last six games for the Shaymen. Very much like Bray mentioned earlier his runs from midfield and ability to find space to create and score goals will be something the Carlisle defensive players will have to keep a close eye on in this one.
Hmami has seven goals and one assist so far this season in all competitions.
My Predicted Carlisle United Starting Eleven
Breeze, Davies, Hayden, Feeney, Harper, Macadam, Gilliead, Conn-Clarke, Williams, Linney, Kelly.
At this point of the season is become obvious which system and which players work for Mark Hughes so as always the keeper and back four pick themselves, Williams seems to be first choice down the right at the moment, Gilliead is a sure fire starter every week and Conn-Clarke, Linney and Kelly create so many chances and score goals I can’t see them dropping out either.
With the Cumbrians playing 120 minutes at the weekend there may be more rotation that Hughes may have initially planned on.
The only position that seems up for grabs is the defensive midfield place and that’s between Ellis and Grant, both can do a job but I prefer Ellis there personally.
My Score Prediction
Carlisle United 3-1 Halifax Town
Adam Lakeland’s side will be a tough game, they have already won at Rochdale so they aren’t shy of big results away from home this season but that being said I think the fire power Mark Hughes’ side has will be too much for their defence that has leaked goals at times this season.
I think the game will be tight and maybe only settled by the odd goal but maybe a late goal to make the scoreline look more comfortable than game actually was is my prediction.
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