Carlisle United vs Newport County AFC. Sky Bet League Two.
Brunton ParkAttendance5,311.
Friday 4 May 2018 11:58, UK
Keith Curle will take charge of Carlisle for the final time when Newport visit Brunton Park.
Curle has been in charge since 2014 but will depart at the end of the season, while first-choice defenders Clint Hill and Mark Ellis are among those with expiring contracts.
Richie Bennett and Hallam Hope impressed from the bench in last weekend's win at Port Vale and could be promoted in the manager's final selection. Jason Kennedy (pelvis) and Nicky Adams (knee) are injured and Reggie Lambe is out of favour.
Newport manager Michael Flynn will resist the temptation to play some part in the match. A sickness bug has afflicted several first-teamers, thinning out squad numbers, but despite being registered Flynn does not intend to take the field himself.
Paul Hayes is definitely laid low by the illness, while Scot Bennett and Joss Labadie are injured and Jay Foulston is away with Wales Under-19s. Teenage midfielder Modou Touray could make his first-team debut.
Despite being unbeaten in two league meetings with Newport (W1 D1), Carlisle have lost five of the last seven since the 2014-15 campaign.
The Exiles have scored at least once in all 17 of their meetings with Carlisle in the Football League (34 goals total).
Carlisle have lost just one of their last 13 league games (W6 D6), whilst a victory over Newport would guarantee them a top 10 finish in League Two for the third consecutive season.
Carlisle have won their last two final games to a league season (both away) by an aggregate score of 8-2.
Since their return to the Football League, Newport have either won 2-1 in their final league game of the season (twice) or lost 1-0 (also twice).
