PREVIEW: Carlisle United v Coventry City - The Cumbrians host the Sky Blues at Brunton Park

City face Carlisle in SkyBet League Two...

29 December 2017

Venue: Bruton Park, Carlisle.

Competition: SkyBet League Two

Date: Saturday, 30th December 2017.

Kick-Off: 3pm

The Sky Blues head to Brunton Park to face Carlisle United in SkyBet League Two as they look to get their festive period back on track with a win on the road.

Mark Robins' side have not won away from home since last months 2-1 win over Lincoln City at Sincil Bank and City look set to be without Peter Vincenti as he awaits news on a knee injury picked up before Christmas.

Vincenti joins Liam Kelly (heel), Jodi Jones (ACL) and Tony Andreu (ACL) on the sidelines.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle could name an unchanged side for the fourth game on the bounce if Shaun Miller fails to fight his way into the side.

The former Coventry man come off the bench to score on Boxing Day and could feature as the Cumbrians target a fourth win in twelve days.

The Opponents

The Cumbrians started the summer with the free signings of Bury duo Hallam Hope and Kelvin Etuhu. Formerly of Everton and England U19s, Hope scored four in 21 appearances last campaign on loan from Bury and provides Carlisle with some much-needed fire power.

Likely to partner Hope in attack, Sky Blue fans will remember Shaun Miller who joined the ranks at the Ricoh Arena in 2014 making 12 appearances before heading out on loan to Crawley Town and York City.

Attempting to stop the Sky Blues from finding the net tomorrow is likely to be defensive duo Gary Liddle and Mark Ellis. Ellis achieved promotion to the Football League last season while on loan at Forest Green Rovers whereas Liddle was relegated with Chesterfield.

Earlier This Season

The Sky Blues are yet again presented with a chance to complete their first double of the season after second-half goals from Duckens Nazon and Peter Vincenti helped City to victory over the Cumbrians at the Ricoh in September.

Nazon, in for the injured Andreu, gave Mark Robins’ side the lead just after half-time before Peter Vincenti grabbed his first goal for the club with ten minutes to go.

Tom Davies, who picked up the man of the match award, and Jordan Willis remained solid in defence earning City their fifth clean sheet in just seven games.

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Carlisle United 0-1 Coventry City - McNulty's second half strike send City home with all three points

The Sky Blues end 2017 with a win...

30 December 2017

The Sky Blues have ended 2017 by securing their first away win since November thanks to Marc McNulty's second half strike.

City's dominant second half display was enough to secure all three points infront of over 800 of the Sky Blue Army.

McNulty did have the chance to double Coventry's lead late on from the spot but his effort was saved by Jack Bonham.

Victory means the Sky Blues climb to fifth in SkyBet League Two.

The first chance of the afternoon came the way of match-winner McNulty. Jordan Shipley found himself free down the left to drive forward and cross low to the former Sheffield United man, who skipped a challenge before seeing his effort blocked in the area.

Hallam Hope scored twice for the Cumbrians last time out, and found space on the penalty spot to turn and shoot midway throught the first half, only to see his shot blocked briliantly by the face of Tom Davies.

Bermudan, Reggie Lambe almost forced Mark Robins to make a late change to his team talk moments before the break when turned and tried to pick out the top corner from 30-yards but could not keep his effort down in the windy conditions.

Duckens Nazon came on at the interval but after a collision with Tom Parkes found himself quickly nursing a hip injury that would see him replaced by Max Biamou moments later.

The Sky Blues would take thee lead five minutes after the break. A ball from deep bounced over Gary Liddle and fell kindly for McNulty to calmy slot home under the body of Jack Bonham.

Coventry almost doubled their lead minutes later when McNulty broke away from the Carlisle midfield and played Tom Bayliss into the area. The teenager's thunderous effort came back off the post before Devon Kelly-Evans' rebound was turned in by Biamou, but the flag was up.

Bayliss was at his brilliant best all afternoon, and nearly turned a charging run from midfield into a stunning solo goal, only to be denied by the right hand of Bonham yet again.

McNulty has scored seven in eight games for the Sky Blues and had the chance to make it two on the day from the spot with fifteen minutes to go after Shipley was brought down in the area, but the 25-year-old's low strike was pushed away by Bonham, keeping the Cumbrians in the game.

Carlise would have one last chance deep into added time. Shaun Miller managed to find Kelvin Etuhu in the area but Lee Burge was able to dive on the ball bravely to make sure of all three points.

Goals: McNulty 50'

Yellows: Grainger 66', Davies 72'

Reds:

Attendance: 5,807 (847 away).

Coventry City XI: Burge, Grimmer, Willis (Hyam '18), Davies, Stokes, Dev. Kelly-Evans, Bayliss, Doyle (C), Shipley, McNulty, Beavon (Nazon 45' [Biamou 51']).

Subs: O'Brien (GK), Haynes, Stevenson, Ponticelli.

Carlisle United XI: Bonham, Grainger (C), Liddle, Parkes (O'Sullivan 61'), Jones, Hope (S. Miller 71'), Devitt, Bennett, Brown, Lambe (Etuhu 75'), Hill.

Subs: Bacon (GK), T. Miller, Cosgrove, Ellis.

Match Reports

Standings