Preview: Exeter City vs Carlisle United

City’s extra time win over Bradford in the FA Cup on Tuesday has been overshadowed by the revelation that they may be thrown out of the competition due to using too many subs. While that saga draws to a conclusion, Matt Taylor must try to focus on trying to extend City’s club record unbeaten run to 20 matches with a fourth successive home match. Kyle Taylor again missed out on Tuesday with the dead leg he picked up last week, while Taylor utilised a new 4-3-3 formation against Bradford. Expect a return to the 3-5-2 with the likes of Josh Key, Jake Caprice, Jevani Brown and skipper Matt Jay to come back in.

Carlisle have had a nightmare start to the season and go into their marathon trip on Saturday lying just one place outside the relegation zone having recorded just two wins in 16 matches so far. A change of manager saw Keith Millen return to full time management. Recent form has picked up slightly albeit mainly in the cups, with the Cumbrians having lost one of their last six in all competitions, although you have to go back to early September for the last time Carlisle won in the league. Two former City players will be hoping to take the field on Saturday – Brennan Dickenson has become a regular after a serious injury hampered him in his first season, and Tristan Abrahams. Both are joint top scorers alongside Zach Clough, Jon Mellish and Joe Riley with just two league goals apiece.

Last season’s fixtures both finished 1-0 to the home side. City took the points back in October thanks to Tom Parkes against a Carlisle side reduced to ten men when Gime Toure reacted to a Jake Taylor tackle that could perhaps have seen the then City skipper also heading down the tunnel, while an early Lewis Alessandra strike was enough to give the hosts the win in the return at Brunton Park. City have the edge in league head to heads with 26 wins to Carlisle’s 20, 17 matches finishing level. You find details of 39 of those games at:- https://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?p=10254

Match officials for the game will be:-

Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant Referees: Daniel Flynn and Louis Marks
Fourth Official : Christopher Wade

Will Finnie has taken charge of two City games previoiusly, https://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=finnie