Carlisle United second-favourites for relegation to National League

Carlisle United find themselves in a very precarious position

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3 days ago 197

Carlisle United are struggling to find their feet in League Two this season and as such, now is an excellent time to register with any of our featured UK betting sites where you can grab yourself the very latest Carlisle United odds as well as the best League Two free bet promotions and other offers.

Carlisle United amongst favourites for relegation to National League

Update: 16.01.25

Following their relegation from League One at the end of last season, it’s fair to say that things haven’t been going too well for Carlisle United in the fourth tier this term. The question is, will the Cumbrians be relegated to the National League at the end of 2024/25?

Frosty weather

Carlisle United’s meeting with MK Dons was a victim of the frosty weather last weekend and following its postponement, the Cumbrians find themselves still two points adrift at the foot of the League Two table. Mike Williamson’s men are up against promotion-chasing Bradford City at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon and failure to collect all three points here would be a further setback in Carlisle’s battle against dropping down into the National League.

Positive note

Carlisle United ended 2024 on a positive note, the Cumbrians clinching only their fourth league win of the season when edging past Accrington Stanley to the tune of 2-1 at Brunton Park on 29th December. This was an excellent response to their 1-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Morecambe at the same venue just three days earlier and it was hoped by all concerned with the club that this was the signal for a turnaround. Unfortunately, this hasn’t proven to be the case and subsequent defeats away to Crewe Alexander (3-2) and Tranmere Rovers (1-0) have been enough to send Mike Williamson’s men to the foot of the League Two table as we head deeper into the second half of the campaign.

Worst ever year

In terms of league wins at Brunton Park, 2024 was the worst ever year for Carlisle United with the club recording just two victories whilst on league duty (League One and League Two). Hopes are high within the club that the Piatek family will be splashing the cash in the January sales and that Williamson can mould the new arrivals into a winning side, however the fans remain to be convinced, as do the bookmakers who have slashed the odds on the Cumbrians being relegated to the National League at the end of the season, some firms going as low as 8/5 (best odds 13/8) that they drop out of the Football League for the second time in their history.

Favourites

Current favourites for the drop this season are Morecambe at best odds of 8/11, the Lancashire outfit sitting two points and one position above Carlisle United as things stand. 21st-placed Harrogate Town are a 7/4 shot for relegation this season while 18th-placed Newport County complete the top four in the betting at a best price of 11/4.

League Two Relegation Best Odds

(Odds correct as of Thursday, 16th January 2025)

8/11 – Morecambe

13/8 – Carlisle United

7/4 – Harrogate Town

11/4 – Newport County

4/1 – Swindon Town

9/1 – Accrington Stanley

9/1 – Tranmere Rovers

Update: 27.12.24

There’s much of the League Two campaign left to play but Carlisle United are in a very precarious position after 21 rounds of fixtures.

Pathetic showing

It was an utterly miserable Boxing Day for Carlisle United fans as they witnessed their side put in an utterly pathetic showing when losing 1-0 against fellow League Two strugglers Morecambe at Brunton Park. There was little to be optimistic about from the Cumbrians’ performance throughout, Jon Hellish receiving a red card to add to the home side’s woes. This dismal display resulted in chants against manager Mike Williamson as the game went further into the second half, while the players returned to their dressing rooms after the final whistle to the sounds of boos from the terraces and stands.

Worst calendar year

On the back of this defeat, Carlisle returned to the foot of the league standings while Morecambe leapfrogged them into 23rd position. The Cumbrians have won just two of their league games at Brunton Park in 2024, the worst calendar year ever for the Brunton Park side and their general standard of play yesterday further underlined why they are fully deserving of their place at the foot of the division.

Business

Perhaps surprisingly, Carlisle aren’t favourites to be relegated at the end of the season, although they are third in the betting market. There will be some business to be done in the January sales but the reality is that few – if any – ambitious players of note would be willing to move to this footballing outpost to a side which is the worst in the Football League and in danger to dropping into the National League. The leading bookmakers go a best price of 2/1 (lowest odds 15/8) that the Cumbrians find themselves in the National League in 2025/26, behind favourites Morecambe at 4/7 and Harrogate Town at 6/4.

League Two Relegation Best Odds

4/7 – Morecambe

6/4 – Harrogate Town

2/1 – Carlisle United

5/1 – Newport County

11/2 – Accrington Stanley

6/1 – Swindon Town

10/1 – Tranmere Rovers

18.12.24

Paul Simpson

As we fast approach the mid-way point in the 2024/25 League Two campaign, Carlisle United find themselves rooted to the foot of the league standings, albeit with a game-in-hand over the two sides immediately above them in the division. The Cumbrians dropped down from League One at the end of 2023/24 having spent just a single season in the third tier and following a poor start to the current campaign, the club decided to part ways with popular manager Paul Simpson.

Signs of improvement

Mike Williamson was brought in as Simpson’s replacement and while some of his troops have shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks, a dismal 2-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield at the weekend did nothing to improve the club’s situation. Indeed, while the Cumbrians enjoy a game-in-hand, given that they have managed just three league wins since the start of the season it’s hard to be confident in them using this to their advantage.

Significant business

Carlisle United’s American owners, the Piatek family, have hinted that the club will do some “significant business” during the January sales and look to turn things around in their failing league campaign. Nevertheless, the Brunton Park outfit are deemed to be one of the sides most likely to drop down into the National League at the end of 2024/25 with some bookies going as low as 9/4 (best odds 5/2) that this proves to be the case, behind favourites Morecambe at 4/6 and Harrogate Town at 2/1.