Trailing behind Group C's top two in the EFL Trophy, Carlisle United and Wigan Athletic meet at Brunton Park on Tuesday.

Home Team: Carlisle United

Carlisle United will host Wigan Athletic at Brunton Park in a crucial EFL Trophy group stage match. After both teams suffered defeats in their opening fixtures, the stakes are high, as neither can afford to drop more points if they want to remain in contention for a knockout stage berth. Since parting ways with club legend Paul Simpson, Carlisle has struggled to find form under new management. Following a goalless draw against Colchester United on Saturday, they sit third-bottom in League Two with just seven points from ten matches. The team relied heavily on goalkeeper Harry Lewis’s outstanding saves to salvage a point over the weekend, but they need a victory in this encounter to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive.

Away Team: Wigan Athletic

In contrast, Wigan Athletic enters this clash in solid form. The Latics thrashed Bristol Rovers 4-0 in their last outing, followed by three consecutive goalless draws, before sealing a 3-0 victory against Peterborough United. Their unbeaten streak has now extended to six matches, with another 0-0 result against Stockport County on Saturday demonstrating their defensive prowess. Remarkably, Wigan has not conceded a single goal since their opening day loss to Morecambe over a month ago, which has helped them establish a mid-table position in League One. With the best defensive record in the division, manager Shaun Maloney will expect his side to maintain their clean sheet record and secure maximum points at Brunton Park.

Prediction: 1-1

Carlisle vs Wigan and TV listing

Great Britain：Sky Sports+

Ireland Republic：Sky Sports+

International：Score808 808ball