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

League Two outfits Carlisle United and Hartlepool United get their EFL Trophy campaigns underway with a clash at Brunton Park on Tuesday.

Having both suffered early exits from the EFL Cup, the teams will be looking to redeem themselves and make a deep run into the latter stages of this one.

Match preview

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Off the back of consecutive defeats on the road, Hartlepool United made it three home wins from as many outings with their victory against Carlisle United over the weekend.

David Challinor's men have moved up into fifth position on the log and are now just three points off the top with a game in hand on current leaders Forest Green Rovers.

The Pools now prepare to take on an opposing side who they have beaten just once in the last seven meetings between the sides dating back to 2014.

However, that solitary triumph came in the most recent clash on Saturday which should give Tuesday's visitors the belief that they can emerge victorious once again.

After an opening-day victory against Swindon Town, Carlisle United failed to win for the third game running following a 2-1 defeat against Hartlepool on Saturday.

Chris Beech's men trailed inside the opening 15 minutes to Tyler Burey's strike but managed to get back on terms before the half-time whistle thanks to Zach Clough, before Gavan Holohan settled the contest with the only goal of the second period.

The Blues are 12th in the standings at the moment and early signs indicate how large the task of securing promotion into League One at the eighth time of asking is.

Tuesday's hosts have suffered group-stage exits in each of the last four editions of the EFL Trophy since the format was changed four years ago.

However, they are one of only nine teams to have won the tournament on multiple occasions with their last title coming back in the 2010-11 season.

Team News

Tyler Burey has come into his own since his loan move from the Millwall Under-23s, scoring in each of his last three appearances for the visitors.

Luke Molyneux is yet to start a game for Hartlepool since their EFL Cup defeat to Crewe Alexandra, but he could be recalled into the XI for this one.

Zach Clough found the back of the net in his first start of the season last time out and he is expected to keep his place in the starting lineup.

Summer signing Tristan Abrahams will be relied upon once again having netted two of Carlisle's four goals in all competitions this term.

Carlisle United possible starting lineup:
Norman; Armer, McDonald, Feeney, Whelan, Tanner; Mellish, Guy, Riley; Clough, Abrahams

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Byrne, Liddle, Francis-Angol; Ferguson, Featherstone, Shelton, Sterry, Holohan; Goodwin, Burey

We say: Carlisle United 1-1 Hartlepool United

With the added psychological edge from Saturday's win, Hartlepool will fancy themselves to get the better of their hosts for the second time in four days.

Meanwhile, Carlisle will be aiming to exact revenge but we are backing a stalemate with the sides settling for a point apiece in the end.