Carlisle vs Colchester preview
Friday 14 December 2018 11:42, UK
Carlisle forward Jerry Yates is a doubt for the Sky Bet League Two match against Colchester.
Yates, on loan from Rotherham, was forced off early on during last weekend's 2-0 defeat at MK Dons because of a hip problem.
Midfielder Jamie Devitt and Tom Parkes both came off the bench after their return to fitness, while defender Danny Grainger was an unused substitute as he recovered from a calf problem. Jason Kennedy is stepping up his rehabilitation from the midfielder's long-term pelvic problem.
Colchester, who are looking to keep up their promotion push, could have top scorer Luke Norris back in contention to start. Norris had been sidelined by an ankle problem since the start of November, but the eight-goal forward came on for the closing stages of last weekend's 1-0 home win over Macclesfield.
Centre-back Tom Eastman is back in contention after recovering from a head injury. The defender has been missing since the FA Cup defeat to Accrington Stanley after sustaining a small fracture near his eye, but has now resumed full training again.
Opta stats
Of the last five league meetings between Carlisle and Colchester, both sides have won two matches each, with their most recent such encounter ending in a 1-1 draw.
Colchester have not won at Carlisle in a match in the fourth-tier since March 1993, losing three and drawing two of the last five such games.
Carlisle are winless in three games scoring just twice (D1 L2), they won their previous two consecutive games scoring no less than seven.
Colchester have lost two of their last three away games in League Two (W1), scoring just once.
Colchester's Sammie Szmodics has been directly involved in seven goals in his last nine games in League Two (5 goals, 2 assists).
