Carlisle United must overturn significant odds if they are to head into Christmas on a winning note at Port Vale today.

The clash at Vale Park sees Mike Williamson's bottom side take on Darren Moore's second-placed Valiants.

Vale are odds-on for victory with prices of 13/20 (Bet365), 7/10 (Ladbrokes) and 8/13 (SkyBet) on offer.

By contrast, the Cumbrians are 9/2 for victory with BetFred and 4/1 with William Hill.

The draw in Burslem is 3/1.

United frontman Daniel Adu-Adjei is a 11/1 shot to get the opening goal in this afternoon's game.

Fellow AFC Bournemouth loanee Dominic Sadi is 14/1 for the first goal, with Georgie Kelly 12/1.

Other contenders for the opener in the United ranks include Jordan Jones at 18/1, Tyler Burey at 18/1, Jon Mellish at 25/1, former Valiant Callum Guy at 33/1 and Sam Lavelle at 40/1.

For Moore's hosts, Jayden Stockley is the 5/1 favourite to strike first.

Ruari Paton is 11/1, Antwoine Hackford 6/1 and Lorent Tolaj 13/2.

Longer shots in the home ranks include Ryan Croasdale at 16/1, Rekeem Harper at 20/1 and Jesse Debrah at 40/1.

Carlisle started 2024 with a 2-1 win over Port Vale at home, Mellish heading a last-minute winner, and are 16/1 to repeat that scoreline on the road in December.

A 1-0 away win - the score when United last enjoyed victory at Vale Park in October 2020 thanks to a Mellish goal - is 13/1.

The Valiants won 1-0 in this fixture in League One last season and that scoreline today is 11/1.

A 2-0 win for the home side is 7/1, while a 1-1 draw is priced 13/2.

Carlisle have not scored more than once in a league game since September, and are 9/2 to hit the net twice today, 14/1 to score three or more, 21/10 for one goal and 6/5 to draw a blank.

Source: Oddschecker.