Our prediction for this League 1 match:
Derby
Match Time & Date:
27/04/2024
13:30
Prediction: 3-0
Carlisle
Derby County will be aiming to clinch automatic Championship promotion when they welcome rock-bottom Carlisle United to their Pride Park on the last day of the regular season. The Rams survived Cambridge United at the weekend and they are seen as hot favourites to beat the Cumbrians as well. With no fresh injury worries to report, Paul Warne is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated the U’s.
Meanwhile, the visitors will compete in the League Two after collecting only 30 points in total in the process. As David faces Goliath at Pride Park, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. Carlisle defender Sam Lavelle limped off with injury in the last league match, with Paul Huntington likely to sneak into the starting XI. Earlier this term Derby County defeated Carlisle United 2-0 at Brunton Park and we predict that history is going to repeat itself.
Highlighted Player (Conor Hourihane):
Conor Hourihane is an Irish footballer who plays for Barnsley. The midfielder was born on 2 February, 1991 and he started his youth career at Premier League club Sunderland. In 2011 he joined Plymouth Argyle and he spent three years at Home Park.
After scoring 15 goals in 125 appearances for the Pilgrims in 2014 Hourihane decided to take next big step in his career. On 23 June he signed a three-year deal with Barnsley for a fee of £250,000. In August he won the League One Player of the Month award and, no doubt, he made a flying start to his Barnsley career. Hourihane made 46 appearances for the Tykes in the 2014/2015 League One campaign, scoring 15 goals and he certainly helped the team return to the Championship.
The Irish midfielder has eight caps for the U-21 team. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as defensive and left midfielder as well. Conor Hourihane is a right-footed footballer.
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.
