Fresh off ending a six-match winless League Two run, Accrington Stanley welcome in-form second-bottom Carlisle United in Easter Monday's gameweek 44 relegation six-pointer at the Wham Stadium.
The Stanley beat playoff hopefuls Salford City 2-1 on Good Friday, securing a timely away victory since February, and they seek consecutive league victories since early January against an opponent hoping to avoid consecutive relegations.
Match preview
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Accrington entered Friday's match with Salford without an away win in League Two since a 1-0 success at Tranmere Rovers in late February.
Since that narrow triumph, the Reds had gone three of the next four contests on the road without scoring, suffering losses to Barrow (2-0) and Bromley (4-0) and playing out a goalless encounter at Swindon Town.
Scoring two goals at Salford saw John Doolan's men notch two goals on the road for the first time since January 4's 2-0 success at Colchester United, and the timely result took Stanley six points clear of second-bottom Carlisle with three games remaining.
Given that they could all but seal their status by securing maximum points on home turf for the first time since March 11's 5-0 success over Newport County, Noolan's men will hope to carry the momentum from Friday's win to end a four-match winless sequence in Lancashire.
Having not lost to Carlisle on home soil in any competition since suffering a 3-1 EFL Trophy loss in September 2014, the Reds hope to keep it that way and retain their fourth-tier status.
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Aiming to prevent that outcome are Mark Hughes's men, whose ongoing form underscores their ambition to prevent consecutive relegations after last season ended in the Cumbrians finishing bottom of League One.
Five of Carlisle's 10 League Two victories have been since the former Champions League-winning striker was appointed in February; however, three straight wins have come in the most recent fixtures.
The second-bottom club have notched two 3-2 wins over Newport County and Port Vale, either side of a 2-0 success at Morecambe.
Defeating the latter ended a three-game losing run on the Blues' travels, and they seek back-to-back away triumphs for the first time this season to extend their three-game winning streak.
While maximum points will not take Carlisle out of the dreaded relegation zone, Hughes's men, four points from safety, could close the gap on Tranmere Rovers, who travel to Barrow on Easter Monday.
Team News
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Having suffered no apparent injuries against Salford, Accrington, who welcomed back Sonny Aljofree and Alex Henderson last time out, have only Jay Rich-Baghuelou unavailable for Carlisle's visit.
Shaun Whalley, Ben Woods and Tyler Walton are the home side's leading goalscorers with nine, seven and seven goals, respectively, and the Accrington players aim to be decisive for the Reds.
Matthew Dennis is suspended for Carlisle after receiving a second yellow following his withdrawal, joining the injured Archie Davies, Dylan McGeouch, Charlie Wyke, Paul Dummett, Josh Williams and Jordan Jones on the sidelines on Easter Monday.
Georgie Kelly, who has netted in each of Carlisle's last three wins, and Aaron Hayden, scorer in two of those games, both hope to be decisive for the away side seeking a fourth consecutive League Two success.
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Aljofree, Matthews, Ward; Love, Coyle, Grant, B. Woods; Whalley; Walton, J. Woods
Carlisle United possible starting lineup:
Breeze; Ellis, Hayden, Thomas, Harper; Fusire, Whelan, Harris; Wearne; Kelly, Hugill
We say: Accrington Stanley 1-1 Carlisle United
Carlisle's previous two away wins in 2025 have been followed by defeats, which is a portent for Monday's fixture.
However, with their hosts, Accrington, not in the finest form, the spoils could be shared in a score draw.
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