Carlisle United will be looking to continue their push for League Two's automatic promotion places when they host Hartlepool United at Brunton Park on Tuesday night.
The Blues are fourth in the league standings and have at least one game in hand on every team above them, while the Pools have concerns at the other end of the table, currently sitting in 22nd place.
Match preview
Carlisle are faring very well in League Two, mainly owing to their fantastic record in front of goal, having scored 39 goals, the joint-second highest amount of any team in the fourth tier.
Not only that, but the Blues' defensive record is also showing signs of improvement, having now kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches, including in the game against Newport County at the weekend.
The Blues ran out 2-0 winners against Newport County at Brunton Park, with Krystian Dennis and John-Kymani Gordon getting on the scoresheet, the latter getting his first professional goal on his debut after arriving on loan earlier this month.
Brunton Park has been a fortress for Paul Simpson's side this season, only losing on home soil on one occasion in the league, with that coming in a closely-contested 3-2 defeat against league leaders Leyton Orient.
In their last 12 encounters with Tuesday's opponents, Carlisle have only lost once, winning 3-1 in the away trip to the Suit Direct Stadium earlier this season, and so they will be well aware that they are very capable of emerging as winners.
Hartlepool have found it very difficult in their second full season back in the EFL, currently just two points clear of the relegation zone, with 23rd-placed Gillingham also possessing a game in hand.
It is evident that the Monkey Hangers' defence that has cost them dearly, given that they have far and away the worst defensive record in the league, conceding 47 goals in 26 games, six more than any other side.
The Pools parted with Paul Hartley back in September, and form has significantly improved under the helm of Keith Curle, who has committed his future to the club by signing a deal to remain as manager until the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
In their last six League Two outings, Hartlepool have won on three occasions, securing a vital 2-1 win away at bottom-of-the-table Rochdale on Boxing Day, courtesy of goals from Rollin Menayese and Callum Cooke.
Last time out, the Monkey Hangers were again victorious against Rochdale, in what could prove to be a real six-pointer in the relegation battle, but they will know that Tuesday's opponents will pose much more of an attacking threat.
Team News
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Carlisle goalkeeper Scott Simons is facing another injury layoff after recently undergoing surgery for a thumb injury, so Tomas Holy will continue between the sticks, with Morgan Feeney, Paul Huntington and Jonathan Mellish forming a defensive trio just in front of him.
Striker Jack Stretton is expected to be out for another week, but Dennis and Gordon are already showing signs of developing a fantastic partnership in his absence, so he should not be a huge miss for Simpson's side.
As for Hartlepool, Mikael Ndjoli, Euan Murray and Jake Hastie have all been struggling with viruses as of late, but the latter is now back and available for selection, having made appearances from the bench in recent matches.
Hastie could come into the starting lineup instead of Joe Grey, considering the youngster is still yet to get a goal or an assist in his 12 league appearances so far this season, playing provider for a strike force of Josh Umerah and Jack Hamilton, who both got on the scoresheet in the last match.
Carlisle United possible starting lineup:
Holy; Senior, Feeney, Huntington, Mellish, Armer; Moxon, Guy, Gibson; Dennis, Gordon
Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Dodds, Hartley, Pruti; Sterry, Featherstone, Dolan, Ferguson, Hastie; Umerah, Hamilton
We say: Carlisle United 3-0 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, but Carlisle should still have no problems sweeping them aside, just like they did in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Dennis has been in fine form in front of goals for the Blues, and we expect him to get on the scoresheet again in a resounding victory for his side.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Dominic Lund
