Carlisle vs Stockport Predictions

• Stockport recovered from a tough start to excel in the final stages of the season
• They conceded just 18 times across their final 33 games, picking up six points more than any other side
• Carlisle won just six of their final 18 games in the regular season
• The Cumbrians won none of their eight clashes with the top four, losing five

Can Stockport make it back-to-back promotions?

Stockport were able to pip Wrexham’s Hollywood story to promotion from the National League last season and they’re on the cusp of successive promotions on Sunday. Their incredible rise up the leagues could continue at Wembley as they meet Carlisle in the League Two playoff final.

Getting here wasn’t easy for the pair. Carlisle beat Bradford in extra time on Saturday shortly after Stockport beat Salford on penalties. Now they’re geared up for a huge promotion showdown, as Stockport look to make good on their preseason expectations.

Hopeful Hatters on a high

Stockport were tipped for back-to-back promotions heading into this campaign, but they started with four defeats in five as they struggled to adjust to life in the EFL. That made their hopes of a quick leap up the leagues look slim, but they slowly recovered after winning only three of their first 13 matches in the fourth tier.

In fact, after that slow start no side have been able to match the Hatters. Stockport have League Two’s best record across the last 33 games, picking up six more points since mid-October than Leyton Orient.

They head to Wembley as favourites for promotion and that’s justified, given how they kicked into another gear in the final few months of the season. Stockport have lost only once in the league since the start of February, winning 11 of their 19 games. During the same spell, things have been far tougher for Carlisle.

Cumbrians crumbling

While Stockport have been outstanding since February, Carlisle limited into the playoffs, During that same stretch, they’ve got the 13th-best record in League Two, winning only six of their 18 games. Questions also have to be asked about how they’ll deal with facing one of League Two’s top four, having won none of the eight clashes against them this term, losing five.

The only question mark against Stockport is the absence of top scorer Kyle Wootten, but they’ve found a way to win without him having claimed a victory in three of their last five games. They also managed to put two goals past Carlisle in a 2-2 draw without the forward, so don’t expect that to be a major issue. Miles Hippolyte has stepped up in both previous clashes with Carlisle by scoring the opener, thriving on the left flank against them. He’s a great bet to complete a hat-trick of sorts at Wembley.

Stockport finished the season with the second-best defence in League Two and over half of the 37 goals they conceded came in the opening 13 games. They’ve conceded just 18 across their last 33, while only Salford outscored them in that stretch. Their turnaround after a tough start to take an automatic promotion push to the final day suggests how good they are, so back them to see off Carlisle.

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