The bottom two teams in League Two will aim to close the relegation gap on Thursday as Carlisle United welcome Morecambe to Brunton Park.
Over the weekend, the Cumbrians could only manage a 0-0 draw against Port Vale, though Morecambe were beaten 2-0 by Cheltenham Town, dropping them into dead-last, a point below Carlisle.
Match preview
© Imago
For now, Carlisle are out of the League Two basement, but they have plenty of work to do if they are to remain in this competition next season.
Heading into matchday 21 of the domestic campaign, they are four points below the relegation line, having lost five consecutive matches in this competition.
Mike Williamson's men have failed to find the back of the net in their last two league fixtures while scoring the joint-fewest goals in League Two this season alongside Tranmere Rovers (15).
Six of their 15 domestic points have come at Brunton Park, though they have only claimed one victory at home, the second-fewest below Morecambe.
Poor starts have often led to their demise this season, with the Blues conceding first in 12 league fixtures thus far, seven within the opening 10 minutes.
Carlisle have points in five of their previous six meetings with Morecambe and are riding an eight-match EFL unbeaten run on Boxing Day.
© Imago
The losses continue to pile up in Lancashire, with Morecambe having now suffered four successive defeats across all competitions.
Derek Adams' men are winless in their last five competitive fixtures, while failing to find the back of the net on four successive occasions.
They have, however, seen a drastic improvement in away results, claiming at least a point in three of their previous four League Two matches as the visitors, two of which were victories.
That said, they have let their share of points slip away, dropping eight from a winning position so far this season, which could have them up to 19th in the table.
Morecambe have won five of their previous six EFL affairs against sides based in Cumbria, conceding a mere four goals over that stretch.
At the same time, they have emerged victorious in only one of their previous six league contests on Boxing Day, with the last one coming away from home versus Mansfield Town in 2016 (1-0).
Team News
© Imago
We saw four changes to the Carlisle starting 11 against the Valiants, as Ben Barclay, Jack Ellis, Harrison Neal and Luke Armstrong replaced Dylan McGeouch, Tyler Burey, Josh Vela and Dan Adu-Adjei.
Gabriel Breeze stopped the two Port Vale efforts that he faced on Friday for his first clean sheet since late November versus Doncaster Rovers (0-0 draw).
Last Saturday, Morecambe were missing Lee Angol, who is struggling to recover from a knock, while Nathan Snowball was sent to Northern Premier League side Morpeth Town for a one-month work experience loan.
David Tutonda was among the three newcomers to their starting 11 versus Bromley, as he, captain Yann Songo'o and Marcus Dackers replaced Callum Jones, Jordan Slew and Hallam Hope.
Carlisle United possible starting lineup:
Breeze; Hayden, Lavelle, Barclay; Biggins, Harper, Neal, Mellish; Burey, Jones; Adu-Adjei
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Burgoyne; Hendrie, Williams, Stott, Tutonda; Songo'o, White; Jones, Macadam, Tollitt; Hope
We say: Carlisle United 0-1 Morecambe
Despite their recent struggles, Morecambe have looked much more cohesive and decisive away from home, and we believe they can frustrate a side that have been dismal in front of their supporters all season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
