If there is one thing that no-one can argue about and that it that City been rubbish at home during 2009. We've won just five times at Sincil Bank during the calendar year, beating Wycombe, Macclesfield, Barnet, Darlington and Accrington, only two of those being on Saturday afternoons. However, Chesterfield haven't had much luck on the road this season, picking up just seven points away from Saltergate. The only victories they've picked up on the road have strangely come at the top two, winning 2-1 at Bournemouth and 3-2 at Rochdale.
The Imps are now one bad result away from being in the relegation zone, they will be desperately be hoping for a repeat of last season's result against Chesterfield at home. The 3-1 win against the Spirites last season was arguably the best performance City had under Jackson, even Stefan Oakes scored, that's how rare the performance was. However, given that City can't defend to save their lives, 3-1 would be more than likely a scoreline the visiting team would win by.
With Chris Sutton playing the same side two games in a row for the first time against Rochdale, there is a heavy chance of that happening again, although there were rumours that Michael Gordon and Paul Green were going to start against Hereford. It that was the case, it means the first team is unpredictable yet again. The only player seemingly guaranteed to start is Rob Burch in what could easilyg turn out to be his final away League game for the Imps.
With Nathan Baker seemingly having a guarantee to play, regardless of how bad he is, how many times he hoofs up aimlessly (regardless of how much time he has) and putting a good performance once every nine or so games, he is likely to start alongside Adam Watts. Lichaj will almost certainly play at left back and then you get onto the right back position. By all rights, it should be Hughton as he has done nothing that is worthy of being dropped, especially at the expense of the player that he is better than. However, Sutton has yet to see Green play and could be tempted to play him simply because of that.
Chris Herd's confidence will be up after scoring his first goal for the Imps and he will more than likely start in a midfield that will also contain Shane Clarke and the returning Michael Gordon. The other midfield position will be between Scott Kerr and Stefan Oakes, and with Sutton seemingly not wanting to play both of them at the same time, it will probably be Kerr that starts.
Then you get onto the strike force, and I use the word "force" very lightly when describing those lightweights that claim to be strikers. Jamie Clarke only looks deadly against non-League sides (good practice for later on in his career as he's not good enough to play above Conference North/South level. Chris Fagan must be a good con-man if he convinced someone at Man Utd that he had the potential to be a Premiership striker and the less said about John-Lewis and Delroy Facey, the better. Infact, the last time a striker scored from open play in the League was September 12th.
Chesterfield's striking options are far different, with arguably the best striker in the division playing for them. Jack Lester has scored in every match he's played against City for Chesterfield, scoring six goals in the four games, including a hat-trick two seasons ago. He scored his ninth goal of the season in a recent home win over Cheltenham, the latest in an excellent run of form at home. No-one in the division is better at home than Chesterfield, having picked up 28 from a possible 33 at Saltergate.
However, as good as their home record is, they are terrible on the road, winning just two games on the road, strangely both coming at the top two sides. Other than that, they've lost seven and drawn one of their other eight away games.
The side that started in that win over Chesterfield was Crossley, Picken, Page, Breckin, Little, Allott, Small, Perkins, Djilali, Morris and Lester.
City could theoretically go 19th with a win, although it would take a goal swing of 14 goals against Torquay for that to happen. The win could also potentially see City move five points clear of Grismby. Chesterfield could go fourth with a win.
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| 25 Dec, 2009 21:35 | Report |
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