Leeds could go second with another win, but we seem to be running out of midfielders.

Carlisle are top of the table and four points clear of Leeds, but we could jump to second place if we win and a few other results go in our favour. But John Ward's side have lost just one of their opening six matches at home soil, conceding only two goals in the process, so Dennis Wise knows it will be a tough game.

He told the official site "They've been playing a 4-4-1-1, they'll sit back and they seem to be nicking 1-0s. They defend as a team and make it difficult. They're are at home as well and there will probably be another full-house. John Ward knows the game and is a good coach. He is someone I know well and trust well."  

Leeds have a selection headache in midfield, after Ian Westlake became the latest casualty with a broken toe, sustained during training earlier this week.  Wise said "that's a big disappointment for us, and for him, especially because he started his first game for a while last weekend. We'll have to see and assess the situation."  Radostin Kishishev, Alan Thompson, and Andrew Hughes were already in the treatment room, and although Shaun Derry completed a full 90 minutes in the reserves on Wednesday, Wise intends to send him out on loan to build up his fitness. I’d like to see Carole wide right with De Costa on the left and Douglas and Prutton in the middle, but we’ll have to see what Wise intends to do. 

Dave Basset makes his debut in the Leeds United dug-out, and Wise told the official site "I brought in Harry because I know him well and what he's capable of. We've always got on well. We understand things, and each have a way of thinking which complements each other which is good. I needed someone who I trusted and someone who knows the game. People tarnish him with long ball, but he's not always like that. We'll carry on with what we've been doing. He'll help more with the back four and positional senses. He said 'you're doing fine at the moment', but it's always good to have an old wise head giving you fresh ideas." Former Notts County assistant manager John Gannon will also be there as the new first-team coach. 

Carlisle have no new injury concerns and are expected to name an unchanged side, even though midfielder Jeff Smith has been added to the squad after completing a reserve game on Wednesday as he tries to regain fitness. Obviously Leeds aren’t the only team with midfield problems, as Paul Thirlwell is still out with a calf injury. 

Manager John Ward told the Cumberland News “At the moment Leeds are the best team in the division, and our defenders and goalkeeper will have to stand up to that threat,” Ward said. If they can do that as well as they have in the last two games, when we have kept clean sheets, we will give ourselves a chance at the other end, because we feel we can find a goal in the game.”

A draw will be a good result for Leeds tomorrow and I think we’ll get it. I’m going for 1-1.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters