It’s amazing what happens in the space of 6 months, but last Friday finally saw the return of the Lincoln that destroy Barnet and Rochdale, and although we may not have beaten Hartlepool, it’s better to start of what will hopefully be the run that finally sees us win promotion from this damn division. Last Friday night saw the Imps return to their best, even defensively we looked solid for 91 minutes of the match, but then again we wouldn’t want to keep out first away clean sheet since the Swindon game now would we???

However, anyone expecting to just walk all over Barnet again has got another thing coming. Barnet have rapidly improved since we beat them 5-0 and they’ve recently beaten 2 of the top 6 in the last few weeks. If City repeat the performances of the last few home games then it will be far from an easy game. However, with the new pitch being re-laid we should hopefully see the first on-the-ground footballing performance at Sincil Bank since the aforementioned game against Rochdale earlier this season. This cold prove to be an advantage for the Imps, one of, if not the best footballing side in the division.

For City the choices are pretty straight forward for the majority of the squad. Infact, the only major debating point outside of the strikers could be where to put Lee Beevers after his suspension. Who do you drop after such a dominating performance against Hartlepool? Having played at the left-back position recently, that will more than likely be the position that sees Beevers return to the squad, if he even does return that is. The midfield is also unlikely to change, with Forrester likely to be partnered by Mendes up front.

Barnet’s season has been rejuvenated by Oliver Allen and despite losing 4 of their last 6, the other two games saw wins over Stockport and Swindon. The Stockport win was extremely impressive considering their recent form. However, overall Barnet’s form has been disappointing recently and 6 defeats this calender year has seen them start to nervously look over their shoulders at the relegation zone.

Barnet have had a mixed time since City tonked them at Underhill, at times looking susceptible to a potential late flirtation with the relegation zone, whereas at one point they looked like they could even make it into the playoffs, not to forget a run in the FA Cup to the 4^th round which eventually ended with a defeat to Plymouth. Their record visiting teams in the Top 7 is woeful, losing 4 of the 6 they’ve played so far, strangely enough the only win being at Hartlepool, the last game that the league leaders lost.

Now that the automatic promotion places are 3 points above us, this has become a must win game for the Imps, especially considering the Swindon game next week.