Carlisle United vs Crewe Alexandra. Sky Bet League Two.
Brunton ParkAttendance4,238.
Thursday 23 August 2018 18:28, UK
Carlisle will be tempted to hand George Glendon a starting role against Crewe as they chase a third successive victory of the season.
Glendon impressed as a second-half substitute against Port Vale in midweek and is pushing hard for a spot at Brunton Park.
Adam Campbell, Regan Slater and Macauley Gillesphey are also on hand if boss John Sheridan decides to rotate. Mike Jones (hamstring) is out, with Jason Kennedy not expected back until the new year.
Crewe head north searching for a response to their 6-0 thrashing at Colchester. Players refunded travelling fans from their own pockets and manager David Artell is likely to respond with changes.
Harry Pickering's hamstring injury will keep him out of midfield, with Brad Walker, Callum Ainley and Charlie Kirk all eyeing starting places.Goalkeeper Dave Richards may come under pressure from Ben Garratt and Jordan Bowery can expect a promotion from the bench.
Crewe have only won three of their previous ten meetings with Carlisle (D2 L5), with their most recent win a 2-0 victory in March 2017.
Last season, Carlisle won both meetings between the two, scoring six goals and not conceding a single goal.
Carlisle have lost just one of their last 12 home league games (W5 D6), a 0-1 defeat to Lincoln City in April last season.
Crewe Alexandra, who beat Morecambe 6-0 on the opening day of the season, lost their last match 6-0 away at Colchester United in midweek. They are the first team to both win and lose a match in the Football League by 6+ goals in the same calendar month since Lincoln City in October 1964 (beat Stockport County 6-0 and lost to Newport County 7-0).
John Sheridan has only lost just one of his seven home meetings with Crewe as a manager (W4 D2), a 2-3 defeat in December 2009 as Chesterfield boss.
