Preview: Carlisle United vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

The teams are both currently on 21 points, although the home side have played one less game.

Match preview

Carlisle have really kicked on after finishing 20th in League Two last season, currently in seventh place, just sneaking into the playoff positions.

Steady recent form has caused The Blues to rise up the table, unbeaten in their last seven league matches, dating back to the start of September.

On this run, Paul Simpson's side have won three and drawn four, so they will be wanting to convert some of these draws into victories if they want to really start pushing for the automatic promotion places.

This is particularly true of a 3-3 draw against 23rd-place Rochdale, and a recent 0-0 stalemate against Crewe Alexandra, both of which they perhaps should have won on the balance of play.

Even so, The Blues are unbeaten on home soil this season and will represent a difficult challenge for Doncaster, particularly given the impressive performance last time out against Hartlepool United.

Indeed, Carlisle were impressive in coming from behind to beat their local rivals, Omari Patrick scoring two goals after being brought off the bench to secure a 3-1 win.

Doncaster do not come into the game in quite as good form as their opponents, but are still currently sitting in eighth, behind their opponents on goal difference.

Gary McSheffrey's side are currently on a run of two games without a win, and have lost four of their last seven League Two matches, sending them tumbling down the table after making a promising start.

The main reason for Donny's slump in form is a poor defensive record, having conceded 16 goals so far this season, the highest amount of any team inside the top 14.

Last time out, Rovers managed to hold second-placed Leyton Orient to a 1-1 draw at the Eco-Power Stadium, with Harrison Biggins equalising in the second half, his first goal of the season.

Carlisle United League Two form:

D

W

D

W

D

W

Carlisle United form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

D

W

Doncaster Rovers League Two form:

L

L

W

W

L

D

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

D

L

Team News

Carlisle will be without last weekend's match-winner Omari Patrick, with the forward out for eight to 10 weeks after suffering a hamstring tendon problem.

Fin Back came off early against Hartlepool with a hamstring problem, but it is not as serious as Patrick's and he may be available for the weekend.

Tobi Sho-Silva and Joel Senior are back in training, however they have not fully completed their recovery and are not ready to be selected on Saturday.

A sure-fire starter in attack is Kristian Dennis, who has notched seven league goals this season, five more than any other Carlisle player.

George Miller is poised to start up front for the visitors, with six goals to his name during this league campaign, also netting twice in EFL Trophy action against Barnsley on Wednesday.

Defender Tom Anderson returned for Doncaster in the same game, managing an hour, and he is now available for selection again in the league.

Lee Tomlin retired last week after struggling with injury issues, and the experienced striker will be a big miss for his side.

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:

Holy; Back, Whelan, Huntington, Mellish, Armer; Moxon, Guy, Gibson; Dennis, Stretton

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Mitchell; Knoyle, Faulkner, Williams, Maxwell; Hurst, Close, Clayton, Molyneux; Biggins, Agard

We say: Carlisle United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers

With the sides separated by just one place in the League Two table, it is clear that they are evenly-matched and so we think that they will cancel each other out here.

Not only that, but Carlisle have made a habit of drawing games recently, so the same again is likely here.

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