Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Crewe Alexandra will be aiming to bounce back from back-to-back losses to Newport County and Stockport County when they face Carlisle United in the League Two round 24. The Railwaymen suffered a dip in form, with the team obviously struggling at the back, and, as a result, the odds for away win have been dropping. Defender Luke Offord is back from suspension, meaning that Rio Adebisi is likely to drop to the bench.
Meanwhile, the Cumbrians aim to build on a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bradford City, and we predict that they will take advantage of the current situation in Crewe’s dressing room. Defender Ben Barclay remains doubtful for the hosts, while Fin Back remains in the recovery room. Brennan Dickenson is yet another absentee in the away team. In the first half of the season the two teams played out a goalless draw at Brunton Park.
Highlighted Player (Tomas Holy):
Born in the town of Rychnov nad Kneznou, Czechoslovakia, Tomas Holy is a Czech professional footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper for Ipswich Town in League One. The 27-year-old was born on the 10th of December, 1991, and joined FC Hradec Kralove's youth academy in 2006. After spending four years with them, he signed for Sparta Prague and started playing for its B team.
His first professional appearance for AC Sparta Prague B came on the 11th of June, 2011, in a 1-2 home loss against FK Varnsdorf. He went on to ply his trade-in Czech football for the next six years before moving to Gillingham in England on the 20th of January, 2017, on a two and a half year contract. Gillingham's manager praised the 2.06m tall goalkeeper's "large presence" and "ball-kicking ability," stating them as reasons behind his recruitment. In his time at Gillingham, Holy made 107 appearances and kept 25 clean sheets in all competitions.
On the 24th of May, 2019, Holy joined Ipswich on a free transfer and made an immediate impact. He kept six clean sheets in his first ten league games for Ipswich, including a run of five consecutive clean sheets, a club record. Internationally, Holy has capped at the under-16, under-17, and under-18 level for his country but is yet to receive a call up for the first team.
Highlighted Team (Carlisle):
Founded in May 1904, Carlisle United are a professional football club that have one of the biggest stadiums in the League 2. Brunton Park is the club’s home ground, and it can hold up to 18,202 spectators. When playing at Brunton Park Carlisle United footballers wear blue shirts and blue shorts, while their away kit is sky blue.
The Cumbrians maintain a rivalry with Workington And Barrow, but it has to be noted that the two clubs have not met in the Football League since the 1970s. Carlisle United won their first Football League Trophy in the 1996/97 season, with the team beating Colchester United 4-3 on penalties.
The Cumbrians repeated the success 14 years later (2010/11) as they defeated Brentford 1-0, thanks to Peter Michael Murphy’s goal. Carlisle United recorded their biggest win against Hartlepool United (8-0) on September 1, 1928, with the team suffering their heaviest defeat to Hull City (1-11) on January 14, 1939.