Soccer
Southend and Carlisle tipped for promotion as the pair set for first battle of the season
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With just six matches played in this season's National League, it's already looking like being another tight promotion race as teams eye an EFL place.
Only top spot guarentees automotic promotion and there are several sides who will all think they have a good shot at winning the division and avoiding the play-off lottery.
Boreham Wood currently lead the way, having made an unbeaten start to proceedings, but at this early stage it's tough to call who could be there come the end of the campaign.
Former midfielder John Halls is someone who keeps a close eye on goings-on in England's fifth tier and of all the promotion contenders, he has earmarked the two teams he thinks will battle it out for the title this season.
And by way of coincidence, it's the sides that meet this weekend in a huge early-season clash as Carlisle United entertain Southend United.
The Shrimpers come into the game having made a better start, with just one defeat in their first half-dozen outings under new boss Kieron Dyer.
Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to Northerner, Halls, who also played league football for Brentford and Reading, is tipping Dyer to possibly lead Southend United back to the Football League.
"Southend have had a great start," Halls said.
"Kieron Dyer's in there, he's been there and done that. He's been coaching at Ipswich, and we've seen what Ipswich has done in recent years now. So it was a great, great club to learn his trade at.
"I think he's been there with Chesterfield, where he's won the National League, if I'm not mistaken, with Chesterfield as a coach. So again, knowing what it takes to win the National League; to win the National League is incredible!
"I won the League too at Brentford, so just having that experience of being around those sort of changing rooms and knowing what it takes to get through it, especially the latter parts of the season, that experience is invaluable.
"So, I'm going to stick my neck out with Kieron and I think he's taken a good few signings this season. So, if he beds them in well, you can get that changing room correct and get that spirit in there, that demands of each other, the unity and the togetherness, I think he'll do alright.
"I think they'll be up there. If they can keep their crowd full as well, get 10,000 in there every week, it'd be massive for them."
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Massive is the word for their encounter this weekend, as the Essex side travel to a Carlisle side who were heavily fancied for promotion at the start of the season.
Rob Elliot replaced Mark Hughes in the summer, and although they currently sit in mid-table, Halls believe they are still firm contenders to win the division.
Adding, "Looking at Carlisle, they've both been there, they've both sort of missed out over the last two or three seasons, they've just missed out. So, that gives them a little experience as well. We know that happened with Arsenal and they're finally over the line!
"I think Carlisle is a hard place to go to as well, going all the way up there, so their home form will be big for them if they can get that going.
"At Brentford, when we won the league in League Two, we had two different ways of playing - we had our home form and then we had away game. Our home form was that we went out against teams, we went out early doors and we got our goals and we had some good quality in the team.
"When we were away, it was just a little bit more, not cautious, but we were there to battle hard and stay in the game until at least half-time and then show our quality.
"If they can deliver home form like that and then get some points on the road, then I think they’ll be a big shout, especially with Rob Elliott there, as he's got the experience as well.
"So I think with those two teams, Southend and Carlisle, I'd stick my money on them to get promoted."
carlisleunited.co.uk
After starting his career at Arsenal, Halls played over 200 games across all four of England's leagues, ending his career with Aldershot before switching to lanes and becoming a male model.
And while these days he's more comfortable walking a catwalk rather than down a tunnel, he's across his former clubs, including the Shots and their current National League chances.
"Last season was a scary one," the 44-year-old face of Next said.
"They nearly drifted off. So, it was a hard season for them, but they've started okay, and the big first ten games of the season is crucial. If you can get some wins on the board and just be taking points in that period, that confidence grows, the crowd get behind you and it's a good crowd at Aldershot!
"Once they fill that place, it's a cool, cool spot. We had the crowd behind us when we made the playoffs and it was amazing. That is a hard place to go to when the crowd's behind you.
"So if they could just get a few wins on the board in the first ten, get that sort of recipe going for them for their home games and a few away results, then hopefully they can climb the table a little bit and not be where they were last season."
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