Cardiff vs Carlisle Predictions

• Carlisle have struggled against League Two’s top 10, with a W0 D2 L10 record.
• Cardiff have scored 16 goals in 7 home clashes against bottom half Championship sides.
• Welsh side have a 100% winning record across those 7 games.
• The Bluebirds have conceded in 8 of their last 9 home FA Cup clashes.

Cardiff Need Response

Following a humiliating loss on New Years’ Day, can Cardiff recover and get things back on track? Saturday sees the Bluebirds’ first home game of 2020, having enjoyed a decent record at their own ground last year. With League Two Carlisle the visitors to the Cardiff City Stadium, Neil Harris and his side are expected to return to winning ways.

Having lost 6-1 to a poor QPR side in midweek, Cardiff need a big result to put things right. Will the gulf between these two sides be on full show this weekend? Can the recently-relegated Premier League side claim a victory against a team who are struggling for results in the fourth tier?

Carlisle in Trouble

The FA Cup is usually seen as a welcome distraction for struggling sides, but Carlisle could use some more focus on their league campaign. The visitors come here fourth-bottom in the EFL, with pressure on them to avoid slipping into the National League. They’ve got a seven-point lead over 23rd as it stands, but that could disappear quite quickly with half the season to go.

The main problem for the visitors this season has been their record in their toughest games. They’ve been basically useless against any half-decent side in the division. The highest placed side they’ve beaten this term is 12th placed Scunthorpe – a win which came in August. Against the league’s top 10, Carlisle have lost 10 of their 12 clashes.

Cardiff Goal Rush

While Carlisle have struggled against the top sides in the fourth tier, Cardiff have one of the best home records in the EFL. Only two Championship sides have more points at home than the Bluebirds this term, while they’ve hit 19 goals in 12 games here. They have preyed on smaller sides at home this term, with a 100% winning record against sides in the bottom half of the Championship.

The Bluebirds have won all seven meetings, scoring 16 goals in that time. We see them doing well against a Carlisle side who have conceded at least three goals in each of their trips to the top six in League Two this term. We see them following that run with a heavy loss at Cardiff, who should return to form with a thumping victory. We’re backing Cardiff to score over 2.5 goals in this cup clash.

With the hosts conceding a goal in eight of their last nine home clashes in the FA Cup, we think that the Bluebirds will concede here. Carlisle have managed a goal per away game this season, so we’re going for a 4-1 victory for Cardiff on Saturday.