Carlisle United now odds-on for relegation with bookies
Carlisle United are odds-on for relegation for the first time this season.
BetFred have become the first bookmaker to give the Cumbrians an odds-on price to go down to the National League.
They now rate Mike Williamson's side as 10/11 to be relegated from League Two.
United's odds have shortened considerable in recent weeks as they fell seven points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.
And their 1-0 home defeat to Bradford City last weekend saw bookies reduce things further.
The longest odds for Carlisle to go down are now a miserly 5/4, offered by the likes of Bet365 and Betfair.
Other bookmakers have the Blues at Evens for the drop, with that price offered by SkyBet, William Hill and BetVictor.
United, who have lost their last three games and won just one of their last ten in League Two, still have longer odds than second-bottom Morecambe despite the Shrimps sitting two points above Carlisle.
Morecambe are 4/7 with BetFred to go down, 2/5 with Bet365 and 8/13 with BetVictor.
Carlisle, though, are very much second favourites to be relegated, with fifth-bottom Newport County 9/4 with BetVictor and 19th-placed Harrogate Town 5/2. Third-bottom Tranmere Rovers are 6/1 to go down with fourth-bottom Accrington Stanley 8/1.
United's plight has also seen their odds slashed to finish bottom of the pile.
United's woes went on with a 1-0 defeat to Bradford last time out (Image: Ben Holmes)
They are now 9/4 with SkyBet to end the season in 24th position. Bet 365 offer 3/1 for the same outcome. Morecambe are 5/4 and 19/20 respectively with the same bookies.
United's recovery prospects in general are regarded as ever more remote by the bookies, with a rise into the top half of the table by the end of the season now 50/1 (SkyBet, BetVictor).
Carlisle, with 21 games to go, return to action with a trip to Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
Source: Oddschecker.
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