By Kate Jackson
January 10 2008

Lincoln will face easily their most difficult challenge of January when Rotherham United visit Sincil Bank for the first League game since the opening day of the 1999/2000 season. Rotherham have visited since then in a friendly and have a squad with quite a few familiar names, including former Imp Peter Holmes. City will certainly have to be on their toes to get anything from this game.

City are still undefeated in 2008 but haven't really been challenged by a poor Rochdale side and an even worse Bury outfit. Infact January could very well see City pick up big points as after the Rotherham game we have 3 games against our relegation rivals. Our struggles were made slightly easier by Mansfield's 4-0 capitulation to Wycombe in midweek and all our rivals have difficult games this week, so a win could see the Imps not only move up to 18th, but also pull 9 points away from the drop zone.

They might have another new face in place for the game with the BBC and Soccerbase claiming that Lewis Emanuel has joined us from crisis club Luton. The defender provided the assist for the winning goal in Brentford's 1-0 win over City back in October and several League One fans have said he's too good for League Two, so City might have acquired a coup.

He is apparantly left footed meaning that if he did play then he would more than likely be on the inside left of the defence with Ridley on the left. Nat Brown and Paul Green the other two defenders in front of Marriott.

Scott Kerr is free after suspension so he will more than likely replace Shane Clarke in midfield with Frecklington, Dodds will probably be the other midfielder with Forrester playing just behind the front pairing of Wright and John-Lewis.

City will face a very competent and experienced Rotherham side that will contain several familiar names. Most noteably will be Peter Holmes, the midfielder joined the Imps on loan from Luton last season and was used as one of several scapegoats as to why City's form fell apart.

Mark Hudson played for Peter Jackson at Huddersfield and they have a squad full of players who have won promotion from this division before Warrington used to be in goal for Doncaster, Graham Coughlan won the division with Plymouth and Marc Joseph with Hull to name just a few. New signing Ian Ross also used to play just down the road at Boston United.

The men from Millmoor's season has been fairly good so far and they are on a run of just two League defeats in 16 games, including scalps of Chesterfield and several of our relegation rivals. Rotherham have lost just once on a road, a 2-0 defeat at Barnet. Those two goals are part of just 7 goals they've conceded on the road and they've also won and draw 5.