Carlisle v Forest Green: how it went

How it turned out

We projected about 3.1 goals; the game finished with 2. Both teams scored. We made Both teams to score 63%, and it landed.

What we said beforehand

Carlisle host Forest Green at their ground in the National League on 15 September 2026. Carlisle sit mid-table in 12th place with nine points from seven games and a +3 goal difference. One place above them, Eastleigh sit two points clear, while FC Halifax Town sit just behind. Forest Green are much higher up the table in 7th, also on nine games but with twelve points and a +1 goal difference, putting them in the euro-place zone. A win for either side could move them a place up the table, and a loss could see them slip down. The two clubs are close in points, but the numbers suggest Carlisle have a slight edge in attacking power.

Carlisle’s recent form shows a mixed run of three wins, three draws and two defeats over their last eight matches. At home they have been stronger, winning three, drawing one and losing one in their last five fixtures. Their most recent games include a 2-2 draw with Southend at home, a 2-1 loss away to Boreham Wood, a 4-2 home win over Scunthorpe, a 1-1 away draw with Wealdstone, a 4-1 home victory against Hornchurch and a 1-1 away draw with Yeovil. In those eight games they have scored 18 goals and let in 12, keeping only one clean sheet. Seven of the matches featured both sides finding the net and six had three or more goals, indicating an open style of play. They played just three days ago, so they come into this match on a short turnaround.

Forest Green arrive on the back of three straight wins. In their last eight games they have won five, lost three and drawn none. Their recent results are a 4-0 home win over Gateshead, another 4-0 home win over Gateshead, a 1-0 away win at Hornchurch, a 2-1 home loss to Altrincham, a 2-0 away defeat by Fylde and a 3-0 home loss to Boreham Wood. Their three most recent road outings produced two wins and one loss. Over the eight-game stretch they have scored 15 and conceded 10, keeping three clean sheets but also failing to score in two matches. Like Carlisle they played three days ago, so fatigue could be a factor for both sides.

The two clubs have met four times before, each winning twice and never drawing. Those games have produced an average of 3.8 goals, showing a tendency for high-scoring encounters. The most recent meeting was on 14 February 2026 when Carlisle beat Forest Green 3-1 away. Given the history of goals on both sides and the fact that both teams have been scoring and conceding regularly, we can expect another open contest with chances at both ends.

Our pick is both teams to score. The numbers give Carlisle an 83 % chance to find the net and Forest Green a 73 % chance, while the combined chance of both sides scoring sits at 62 %. The price of 1.44 is shorter than our reading of the game, which makes it attractive. For the pick to fail, one side would need to keep a clean sheet – Carlisle would have to shut out Forest Green or Forest Green would have to hold Carlisle scoreless. Both outcomes look unlikely given the recent goal-rich matches, so we feel confident in the both-teams-to-score option.