Carlisle vs MK Dons preview
Friday 15 February 2019 10:58, UK
Carlisle will be without suspended midfielder Jamie Devitt when they host MK Dons on Saturday.
Devitt was shown a red card in Tuesday's defeat at Crewe and Carlisle chose not to appeal, so the 28-year-old will start his three-match ban this weekend.
Jason Kennedy is thought to be close to making a complete recovery from an operation on his pelvis but is unlikely to be risked so soon for the Cumbrians. On the long-term injured list are winger Arthur Gnahoua (hamstring) and Macauley Gillesphey (knee).
MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale is expected to stick with goalkeeper Stuart Moore against fellow high-flyers Carlisle. Moore made his first league start for the club in the place of Lee Nicholls against Newport on Tuesday, and he is set to retain his spot after keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
After making five changes in midweek Tisdale said his entire squad had to be ready in case they were called upon as the Dons push for promotion from League Two. Defender Jordan Moore-Taylor is a week or two away from being included in the matchday squad as he recovers from a knee problem.
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Carlisle have only lost one of their six home games against MK Dons in the Football League (W4 D1), going down 1-3 in September 2011.
After their 2-0 win at the Stadium MK in December 2018, MK Dons are looking to do a league double over Carlisle for the first time in the top four tiers of English football.
Carlisle are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W5 D1), averaging three goals per game over this period (18 goals).
MK Dons ended a run of six away league games without victory last time out at Newport (1-0) - they're looking to win back-to-back away trips for the first time since October.
Each of Carlisle's last five goals at home have been scored by Hallam Hope (three) or Jamie Devitt (two).