Mark Hughes has backed his Carlisle United team to win all of their remaining games and keep their League Two survival hopes alive as they prepare to face Accrington Stanley.
Three consecutive victories have breathed fresh life into Carlisle’s bid to escape the drop. The Blues head to the Wham Stadium this afternoon needing another positive result to close the four-point gap to safety.
Crunch Time For Carlisle
United will be roared on by a sell-out away crowd of more than 1,000 travelling fans, eager to witness another step towards what would be an extraordinary escape act. Victory would move them within touching distance of safety, especially if third-bottom Tranmere Rovers slip up at Barrow.
However, the stakes are incredibly high. Defeat for Carlisle, combined with a Tranmere win, would mathematically relegate Hughes’ side today.
Hughes said: “We can affect Accrington [today] but we’re trying to make it back into it, so who knows what’s going to happen? We can just affect what we can affect and we’ve got three games to come. Can we win each and every one? On the evidence of [Friday], yes we can.”
Hughes has been forced into a reshuffle, with striker Matt Dennis suspended following his dismissal against Port Vale. Joe Hugill is expected to step in, having returned to the matchday squad in recent weeks.
Another key figure is Luke Kelly, who has been pivotal during United’s winning run, notching four goals across three matches. While Kelly has rarely played two games in four days for Carlisle, Hughes is confident the in-form forward can maintain his momentum.
Squad Boost As Embleton Returns
Carlisle also welcome back Elliot Embleton from suspension, offering another option in midfield as Hughes looks to freshen his side for another must-win encounter.
Elsewhere, Morecambe’s battle against relegation continues. The Shrimps must beat Salford City to maintain any realistic hopes of survival but could still face the drop depending on other results.
Carlisle know that fate may be out of their hands, but recent performances suggest that the team is determined to fight until the very end.
Site Opinion
Carlisle United’s resurgence under Mark Hughes has given fans a glimmer of hope at the most critical stage of the season. The momentum and spirit within the camp are clear to see, and today’s trip to Accrington offers another chance to edge closer to safety. The mission remains a huge challenge, but with belief restored, Carlisle are refusing to go down without a battle. If they maintain their current form, they might just pull off a remarkable survival story.
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