Preview: Bradford City vs. Carlisle United - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are also vying to finish inside the top three, currently sitting in fourth place, having picked up five more points than the hosts, who are in sixth place.

Match preview

Bradford have been fighting at the top end of the table for the entire season, and they are comfortably inside the playoff places, sitting five points clear of eighth-placed Mansfield Town.

Finishing inside the top seven is the bare minimum manager Mark Hughes will be expecting as we approach the climax of the season, and they could still achieve automatic promotion, given that they are only six points off the top three.

The Bantams have the best away record in the league, but they have not always found it easy to deliver in front of their own fans, most recently being held to a 2-2 draw against Hartlepool United despite an Andy Cook brace.

Hughes has made his side very difficult to beat since the turn of the year, losing just two of their last 15 matches in League Two, but there have also been some frustrating games during that time.

After Saturday's draw against Hartlepool, Bradford are now on a three-game run without a win, drawing on every occasion, and what will be particularly frustrating is that each match has been very winnable, taking on sides in the bottom half of the League Two table.

Carlisle are also going strong in their promotion push, currently sitting just one point behind third-placed Northampton Town, meaning they could move into the automatic promotion places with a positive result on Tuesday night.

The Blues have been prolific in front of goal all season, netting 58 times in 36 matches, the highest amount of any team in the league, and this has been on show during their fantastic recent run.

No team has amassed more points than Paul Simpson's side over the course of the past five games, picking up 13 points, and they looked particularly impressive in a 5-2 victory away at Crawley Town.

The last time Carlisle were beaten on their travels was against Doncaster Rovers back on New Year's Day, while they have also been solid at home, although they were unable to take all three points against Stevenage last time out, being held to a 0-0 draw at Brunton Park.

Having lost just one of their last six matches against Tuesday's opponents, winning four, the Blues have a very good recent record against Bradford, which they will be hoping can continue into the match-up in midweek.

Bradford City League Two form:

W

W

W

D

D

D

Carlisle United League Two form:

L

W

W

W

W

D

Team News

Vadaine Oliver was back in the Bradford squad against Hartlepool, having missed the previous five games due to a knee injury, and he could be in line to replace Dara Costelloe at striker, partnering League Two top scorer Cook.

Matt Derbyshire and Thierry Nevers are making progress in their recovery from injury issues, but they are expected to miss out for at least another week.

As for Carlisle, Simpson could look to bring Krystian Dennis back into the side after his side failed to score at the weekend, with the striker replacing Joe Garner, who is without a goal in his last eight games.

21-year-old forward Ryan Edmondson could partner Dennis in attack, given that Omari Patrick has also failed to find the back of the net in recent weeks.

Bradford City possible starting lineup:

Lewis; Halliday, Platt, Stubbs, Ridehalgh; Gilliead, Clayton, Smallwood, Walker; Cook, Oliver

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Holy; Senior, Feeney, Huntington, Mellish, Armer; Moxon, Guy, McCalmont; Dennis, Edmondson

We say: Bradford City 1-1 Carlisle United

With both teams competing at the top end of the League Two table, it is very difficult to separate them, so we are expecting a score draw on Tuesday night.

Bradford have made a habit out of drawing games in recent times, and that record is likely to continue in a match involving two very evenly-matches sides.

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