Exeter City vs Carlisle United - Preview

[Andy Neale]

Carlisle make the long trip south to play-off hopefuls Exeter in awful away form this Saturday. The Cumbrians have played nine games away from home this season, winning one, drawing one, and losing seven. Exeter's form at home is good, having not lost at home since the 11th of October. Carlisle boss Keith Curle will be hoping to tighten his side up away from home, after he admitted they were to open away from home and may switch to a 4-5-1 rather than a 4-4-2. The head to head record between these two teams is in Exeter's favour, winning twenty games compared to Carlisle's sixteen, with fourteen draws between them.

Stephen Elliott (Achilies) is still a long-term absentee for Carlisle, although Mark Gillespie is back on grass after his thigh injury. Troy Archibald-Henville and Danny Kearns should both be ok to play. Exeter have long-term absentees Pat Baldwin, Jamie Reid and Jordan Moore-Taylor sidelined.

As i have already said, Curle is likely to go 4-5-1 here, and i would expect Troy Archibald-Henville to come into the defence against his old side, and for Brad Potts to play a more central role with David Amoo starting on the right wing. Exeter will more than likely stick with their 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 formation for the game on Saturday.

With Carlisle's away form as it is, i can't see anything other than an Exeter win.