Carlisle vs Rochdale Predictions

• Jake Beesley is Rochdale’s top goalscorer in League Two, with nine goals this term, and has scored twice in each of his last two games, including a penalty in each.
• Carlisle have won just twice at home all season.
• Rochdale’s record of 30 goals scored is bettered only by seven teams in League Two, and they impressively beat playoff-chasing Newport County 3-0 last time out.

Clash of styles at Brunton Park

Carlisle’s season ticket holders have been starved of entertainment this term. Their team has scored just six home goals all season in League Two, and had failed to score in five successive home games before beating Walsall at Brunton Park at the end of November.

Boxing Day sees them host a Rochdale side which impressively beat Newport County last weekend, although they had themselves gone six matches without a win in League Two action prior to that triumph. Rochdale have actually conceded one goal more than their struggling hosts, but sit eight points ahead of them in the league table, having netted twice as many goals.

Unpredictable affair awaits; Goalscorer punt may offer best chance?

With both teams scoring in four of Rochdale’s last five, but in none of Carlisle’s last four, that market is off the table for this Boxing Day clash. Likewise, with the two teams managing just three wins in their last 22 outings between them, the win markets might be best avoided ahead of an unpredictable affair.

However, with Rochdale having a better away record than most teams in the division, they should perhaps be favoured to get a result here. Their top scorer Jake Beesley has scored twice in each of their last two games, and takes penalties for the visitors. Backing him on the anytime goalscorer market may represent a smart play for what is a difficult game to call.

A 2-1 Rochdale win may represent a decent correct score prediction, given Carlisle’s troubles at home.