By Nathan Jackson
November 9 2006

Lincoln City will start their 3rd cup campaign of the season when they visit League One side Port Vale on Saturday. City are aiming to make the 2nd round for the first time in 3 years but know it will be one of the more difficult games of the season against one of the inconsistent sides in the UK.

After last week's defeat, there are probably few betters ways to gain confidence than playing a game without the risk of losing league points, well that's if you ignore City's FA Cup history. City haven't exactly set the world alight in the FA Cup in recent years, often going out to a side from below them in this division, or from the conference, infact City have failed to make the 3rd round since 1999, a stat that the Imps will be desperate to correct this season.

The Imps have exited the League Cup and the JP Trophy already this season, beaten in the first round on both occasions to local rivals, Scunthorpe and Grimsby Town so maybe it's a good thing that the Imps don't have a derby in the FA Cup. However, this is arguably the most difficult of the cup games so far this season against a Port Vale side who still harbour hopes of a finish in the playoffs of League One.

Arguably the most important aspect for the Imps is that it'll be a chance to test ourselves against a team from the midtable of the division we'll hopefully be playing next season.

Nothing is particulary happening in terms of team selections his season and this week should realy have no surprise as it's the usual starting line up for City

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers     Moses     Brown    Hughes

Amoo    Kerr  Frecklington   Mayo

Forrester   Stallard

	Leyton Orient			W 3-0
	Oldham Athletic			W 1-0
	Cheltenham Town			W 1-0
	Chesterfield			W 3-2
	Preston North End		LC	W 2-1
	Yeovil Town			L 0-1
	Doncaster Rovers			L 1-2
	Blackpool			W 2-1
	Scunthorpe United			L 0-3
	Bradford City			L 0-2
	Queens Park Rangers		LC	W 3-2
	Bristol City			L 0-2
	Nottingham Forest			D 1-1
	Northampton Town			W 2-0
	Rotherham United			L 1-3
	Tranmere Rovers			W 2-1
	Huddersfield Town			L 1-2
	Norwich City		LC	D 0-0 aet
	Millwall			D 1-1
	Scunthorpe United		(JP Trophy)	D 0-0 aet, won 5-3 on pens
	Crewe Alexandra			L 1-2
	Tottenham Hotspur		LC	L 1-3 aet

As you can see, Port Vale are currently having an average season and they sit 13th in League One. They were on the edge of the playoffs until a run that saw just 2 wins from the last 7 games. Infact, after winning their first 4 league games, they were hoping to challenge Forest for the title before successive defeats against 2 of the last 3 winners of League 2. Their home form has been particulary disappointing, losing exactly half of their 8 home games, the other 4 have seen 3 wins and a draw.

Port Vale have a good strong that is ful of players who have been in this division over the last few years including former Macclesfield trio, Geroge Abey, Paul Harsley and Danny Whitaker. Ex Southend striker Leon Constantine, Colin Miles won the title with Yeovil and former Darlo defender, Akpo Sodje. They are a squad that should be doing better than midtable but will have to improve their form if they want to finish in a half-decent position.