So we lost on the opening day but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll have a bad season. MK Dons lost their first game of last sason and yet went on to record nearly 100 points during the season.

Another way of analysing the irrelevance of the opening day results is that Shrewsbury beat us 4-0 on the first day last season, but we finished above them in the final table.

Another example of the irrelevance of the opening day is that Torquay United won their first two games in 2006/7, a season in which they got relegated.

Looking back on the records of the teams that have won promotion since 2004/5, there are quite a mixed set of results. Infact, three of the four sides to win promotion that season were defeated on the opening day. Infact, Southend United beat City in the Playoff Final, Southend had lost their opening game and the Imps had won their's.

Now, I'm not going to pretend that starting with a defeat is a good thing because obviously we're playing catch-up already. However, look back at last season, bottom after the first game and we were fourth after the third.

All is certainly not lost for the Imps and with three of the better squads in the division all on minus points totals, City certainly still have a chance.

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