Carlisle vs Stevenage Prediction (23.03.2024)

Carlisle are adrift in League One and heading back down to League Two next season, while Stevenage are going along nicely, and involved in the playoff battle right now. They do come here on the back of a couple of defeats though, but this game to the club sitting bottom of the pile seems to give them a good chance to get back to winning ways.

Carlisle have fought this season, but ultimately, they are not good enough to be at this level. They've got one of the smallest budgets in the league, if not the smallest, but the gap in quality has shown as the season has gone on, they are 10 points adrift at the bottom, and 16 points away from safety.

Four losses in a row have put to an end what could have been a fightback. The most recent of those was a 1-0 defeat away at Shrewsbury last weekend, while they've also lost to Barnsley, Charlton and Reading in recent weeks. In just a week or two from now, they are likely to be confirmed as playing League Two football next season.

Stevenage also came up from League Two last season like Carlisle, but with a bigger budget, they've gone well and managed to compete this season. Outside of the playoffs right now, they're in the race though, and with both Lincoln and Oxford off this weekend, could get themselves back into 6th place with a win here.

But they do have to bounce back from two defeats in their last two games. Last weekend, a 1-0 loss at home to Leyton Orient and before that, a 3-1 loss away at Peterborough. Of course both sides are in better form and have more quality than Carlisle.

It's a big ask for Carlisle to compete in this league, and I think they get beaten again here. Stevenage have a big chance to go back into the playoff positions this weekend, put some pressure on those around them, and I think they take it.