English League One
2012-09-08 - Hartlepool United vs Carlisle United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League One
Saturday 8 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United had failed to score in any of their goals in all competitions this season until last weekend when they managed to do that as well as pick up their first win of the new season. The fans will be hoping the change in month led to the change in fortune and that will continue this week.
The team are 15th in the early League One table having picked up 4 points from their opening 4 games of the season, but they did record their first win last weekend against Scunthorpe United. That means Hartlepool are 1-1-0 at home so far this season and have kept clean sheets in both games.
They are unbeaten in their last 3 home games in League One going back to last season, but Hartlepool had previously failed to win their previous 6 home games in front of their own fans. Goals remain their biggest problem as they have only scored 5 in their last 8 home games.
The same side that beat Scunthorpe last weekend are expected to start in this game.
Carlisle United
It is unlikely to be a season where Carlisle United are pushing for a potential promotion spot, although they should be much higher than their current spot in the League One table when the final table is completed in May.
The side have picked up 4 points from their opening League games this season and they currently occupy 17th place in the table. Carlisle have a 0-1-1 record from their 2 away games so far this season, scoring 1 goal and conceding 3 including the 2-0 loss to the MK Dons last weekend.
Carlisle have won just 2 of their last 11 League One games going back to last season, but they have particularly struggled in their away games. They have won just 1 of their last 14 away League games, while they have lost 4 of their last 5.
Liam Noble is suspended having been sent off during the week, while Lee Miller and Danny Livesey are still injured. Adam Collin is likely to be restored after being rested during the week in the Cup.
Head to Head
Hartlepool United did the double over Carlisle United last season, but it was Carlisle who managed that feat the season before.
That win for Carlisle at Victoria Park is the only one they have earned in their last 8 trips here.
Prediction
Hartlepool United will be hoping that last week was the start of a productive period of form after failing to score any goals in August, and they are will be pushing forward for a win against a Carlisle United side that haven't kept a clean sheet away from home in 16 straight League games.
However, the away side have proven that their strength lies in scoring goals rather than keeping clean sheets and they have only failed to scored in 2 of their last 9 away games, including last week in Milton Keynes.
The fixture has regularly seen goals scored with the last 9 at Victoria Park seeing at least 3 goals combined. Previously to the last two seasons, when both sides have recorded 4-0 wins in this fixture, there had been 7 straight games where both sides had scored at least one goal.
I did consider backing Hartlepool to win the game, but the over 2.5 goals has been set at odds against and looks worth chancing in this fixture once again.
The Pick :
Hartlepool United 2-1 Carlisle United
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.10
