Bookmakers have Carlisle United as favourites to get the win they need in order to keep their promotion dream alive today.

Only a victory over the 90 minutes against Bradford City would give Paul Simpson’s side the chance of reaching Wembley.

And home advantage could prove all important in the League Two play-off semi-final second leg, bookies reckon.

They are as short as 21/20 to win the game with SkyBet, with odds of 6/5 offered by Bet365 and 23/20 by William Hill.

A one-goal United win would take the tie to extra-time and possibly penalties.

That would then challenge Carlisle to win the semi-final in extra-time - a prospect priced 12/1 with SkyBet - or via a dramatic shoot-out victory, which is 11/1.

Bradford’s one-goal advantage, though, sees them currently with the shorter odds for qualification for the final.

They are 4/9 to reach Wembley with United 15/8.

Bradford have not won at Brunton Park since 1985 and are 5/2 with Coral to end that barren run today.

A draw would also be enough for Mark Hughes’ side, and such an outcome is 12/5 with Betfair.

Carlisle’s Kristian Dennis, who is hoping to return to the starting line-up, is 9/2 favourite to get the all-important first goal this afternoon.

Bradford’s prolific ex-United frontman Andy Cook is 11/2 to strike first.

First leg scorer Jamie Walker is 11/1 to do it again for the Bantams, with their other former Carlisle men Alex Gilliead and Adam Clayton 25/1 and 40/1 respectively.

Other Carlisle first scorer prices include Ryan Edmondson and Omari Patrick at 7/1, Owen Moxon at 12/1, Callum Guy at 18/1 and Paul Huntington – the matchwinner in the last Brunton Park meeting – 30/1.

A 2-0 home win, which would secure aggregate victory for Carlisle, is 9/1, with a 1-0 win to take it to extra-time priced 23/4.

A 0-0 draw is 8/1 and a second successive 1-0 win for Hughes’ visitors is 17/2.

Source: Oddschecker.