Already-qualified Morecambe will host already-eliminated Carlisle United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night, with both teams taking to the field for the final time in Northern Group C.
Morecambe have posted two wins from their two games in the section to secure their spot in the next round, while Carlisle have lost both of their matches to sit at the bottom of the group heading into matchday three.
Match preview
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Morecambe will enter Tuesday's contest off the back of successive wins, having beaten Worthing 2-0 in the first round of the FA Cup at the start of November, before recording a 2-1 victory over Harrogate Town in League Two on Saturday.
Derek Adams's side are rock bottom of the League Two table, picking up just 10 points from their opening 15 games of the season, suffering nine defeats in the process, but confidence will have been lifted by their back-to-back wins.
The Shrimps have also progressed in the EFL Trophy, having picked up six points from their two matches, which has left them three points clear of both second-placed Wigan Athletic and third-placed Nottingham Forest Under-21s.
Morecambe recorded a 2-1 victory over Wigan in their opening game in Northern Group C on September 3, before beating Forest Under-21s 4-2 on home soil towards the start of last month.
Carlisle United have actually won two of the last three meetings between these two sides, including a 2-0 success in their last match-up in the EFL Trophy in November 2021.
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The visitors were relegated from League One last season, and it has been a tough 2024-25 campaign to date for the Cumbrians, with 11 points from 15 matches leaving them in 23rd spot in the League Two table.
This is therefore a meeting between the two clubs at the bottom of the Football League, and Carlisle United have actually lost the most matches in League Two this season, having been beaten in 10 of their 15 fixtures.
Mike Williamson's side will enter this match off the back of a win, though, beating Salford City 1-0 on Saturday afternoon, which proved to be their first success in any competition since September 21.
Carlisle United have struggled to make their mark in the EFL Trophy this season, losing at home to both Forest Under-21s and Wigan, with the team already being eliminated from the competition ahead of the clash with their division rivals.
Team News
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Morecambe head coach Adams will make a number of changes to his starting side for the clash with Carlisle United, including a spot between the sticks for English goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne.
The 27-year-old had to come off the bench on Saturday against Harrogate Town to replace the injured Stuart Moore, and he will now start in the EFL Trophy.
Jordan Slew and Hallam Hope are also in line for spots in the final third of the field, as Adams prepares to give a number of squad players opportunities to impress in the cup fixture.
As for Carlisle United, there will be a reshuffle following the league clash with Salford, including a start in midfield for Sam Hetherington, who is yet to make a league appearance this season.
Freddie O'Donoghue is also expected to be given another chance to make an impression, while George Kelly should operate through the middle for the visitors, with head coach Williamson set to give opportunities to fringe players.
Charlie Wyke is a long-term absentee for Carlisle United, with the striker out for the season following ankle surgery.
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Burgoyne; Hendrie, R Williams, Stott, A Lewis; P Lewis, Jones; Tollitt, Brown, Slew; Hope
Carlisle United possible starting lineup:
Breeze; Ellis, Atkinson, Barclay, Mellish, Robinson; O'Donoghue, Hetherington, Neal, Sadi; Kelly
We say: Morecambe 1-0 Carlisle United
Both teams will be focusing on their next matches in League Two, but the chance to put another win on the board and build confidence still makes this an important game, and we are backing Morecambe to edge a close fixture on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
