Football – England – League Two
Saturday 13th December 2014 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Exeter City extended their unbeaten run to eight matches at the weekend when they held high-flying Burton Albion to a 1-1 draw at their St James’ Park.
Exeter are now level on points with west country rivals Plymouth Argyle and also Newport County who are both in the play-off pack, and the hosts will be looking to take all three points here this afternoon against struggling Carlisle United.
The Grecians sit in 8th place with only an inferior goal difference preventing them from breaking into the top seven, and despite a number of draws at home so far this season, they’ve only tasted defeat twice so far this term on home turf. Their overall home record stands at 3-5-2 14/13 and they’re unbeaten in their last four with recent wins over League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers and third placed Shrewsbury Town.
Forwards Nichols and Cummins provide the biggest goal threats in an attack that also contains journeyman striker Clinton Morrison.
Visitors Carlisle United remain in the bottom three of the division on the back of losing five of their last seven league matches despite a couple of recent wins over Oxford United and Accrington Stanley. However, these rare successes were recorded on their Brunton Park ground where they hold a pretty decent home record of 4-2-4 17/17 considering their current league position.
But it’s their form on the road that continues to be a grave concern for manager Keith Curle and fans alike as The Cumbrians have managed just one away win all season (which incidentally was at bottom club Hartlepool United in a resounding 3-0 win).
Aside from that though, Carlisle have been poor on their travels as their record of 1-1-7 8/20 indicates and they have conceded the most goals away from home in the division to date. In addition, they’ve kept just two clean sheets and have conceded goals at an average of 2.22 per match.
Exeter’s draw with Burton Albion on Saturday was a good result for The Grecians and I’ll back them to avoid defeat again today against a Carlisle outfit that have struggled on the road all season. Exeter might nick this one perhaps 1-0 but take the round ball on offer.
Pick: Exeter City AH0 @ 1.60 Bet Victor
