Preview: Crewe Alexandra vs. Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

Although separated by 17 places successful the League Two table, Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United caput into Wednesday's gameweek 24 fixture astatine the Mornflake Stadium with 2 wins combined successful 14 games.

The promotion-chasing side's past triumph came successful mid-December, portion second-bottom Carlisle ended 2024 with a 2-1 occurrence implicit Accrington Stanley to drawback a six-match winless streak.

Match preview

© Imago

Despite the wins drying up for Crewe successful the last rounds of 2024, Lee Bell's men person held connected to their play-off spot earlier hosting Carlisle connected New Year's Day, adjacent if AFC Wimbledon, Chesterfield and Bradford, successful eighth, ninth and 10th respectively, are 2 points down the joint-sixth Railwaymen.

Although the Alex person mislaid conscionable erstwhile since September — a 2-1 Boxing Day nonaccomplishment astatine Cheltenham Town — winning lone erstwhile since November's planetary interruption threatens to undermine their promotion aspirations.

Regardless, a congested table, which sees Notts County successful 2nd conscionable a constituent up of Crewe, means winning erstwhile successful 7 matches has not been fatal for Bell's side, who could emergence to 2nd aft their opening fixture of 2025.

While their signifier does not capable fans with confidence, the hosts volition backmost themselves to find immoderate signifier against an hostile that has struggled since League One relegation.

© Imago

Carlisle whitethorn person won their last lucifer of 2024, but the second-bottom broadside successful League Two beating third-bottom Accrington does not suggest a turnaround is successful the offing.

The Cumbrians had fired blanks successful 3 league fixtures connected the trot — losing to Chesterfield (2-0) and Morecambe (1-0) and drafting astatine Port Vale (0-0) — earlier uncovering their shooting boots done Kadeem Harris and Luke Armstrong.

That triumph was the Blues' archetypal since beating Salford City 1-0 astatine the commencement of November, though Mike Williamson volition constituent to his side's 2 losses successful 7 arsenic flimsy grounds of a hard-to-beat side.

Losing 2 successful 7 is an betterment aft a miserable commencement pursuing League One relegation that saw the Cumbrians autumn to 10 losses successful their opening 14 matches, with a wretched commencement costing Paul Simpson his occupation successful precocious August.

Although wins person been fewer and acold betwixt nether Williamson, occurrence connected January 1 could instrumentality them extracurricular the bottommost 2 if Accrington neglect to bushed fifth-placed Grimsby Town.

Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

Crewe Alexandra signifier (all competitions):

Carlisle United League Two form:

Team News

© Imago

While Crewe seemingly came retired unscathed against MK Dons past clip out, Jamie Knight-Lebel picked up his 5th yellowish paper this term, ruling retired the centre-back connected New Year's Day.

Jack Lankester has netted 4 goals and supplied 2 assists successful his erstwhile six appearances for the hosts, making him the Railwaymen's starring threat, though joint-top scorer Shilow Tracey (five goals) could beryllium decisive.

Jon Mellish, who had his Boxing Day reddish paper against Morecambe rescinded, was pivotal to Carlisle's relegation six-pointer occurrence against Accrington, mounting up Harris successful the 2-1 success, and the defender should marque his 20th commencement connected January 1.

The second-lowest scorers successful League Two, with 17 goals, volition look to starring goalscorer Armstrong (three goals) to instrumentality work aft his caller match-winning onslaught connected December 29.

Crewe Alexandra imaginable starting lineup:
Marschall; Connolly, Demetriou, Williams; Cooney, Holicek, Sanders, Tabiner, Conway; Lankester, Tracey

We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-0 Carlisle United

Crewe person stayed undefeated connected location ungraded since losing 5-0 to Chesterfield connected August 17, though they person been held to 4 draws successful the consequent 9 matches, including the erstwhile 2 against Bradford City (1-1) and Colchester United (0-0).

ID:561716:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect11545:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's regular email of previews and predictions for each large game!