By Nathan Jackson
April 5 2007

Lincoln City have a huge double header against Stockport and Darlington knowing that only 6 points will keep them in the race for automatic promotion. City are facing two out of form teams in the space of 3 days over Easter weekend, knowing that anything less maximum points will mean the playoffs.

On November 4^th Lincoln City travelled to Stockport County and were proudly sitting atop of the division. City had been the centre of a local and national media frenzy after a goal-filled October. City’s reign at the top ended at 4:52pm that day after a 2-0 defeat to Stockport, a defeat that could have very easily been much much larger after a dire display from the Imps. A few weeks later and City managed to put in an even worse performance, this time at home to Darlington and the Imps were again lucky to only lose by 2 goals.

 

Since then it’s been relatively downhill since that day, winning just 9 games since then and almost falling completely out of the automatic promotion. Thankfully Rochdale did City a huge favour by getting a draw out of the game against Swindon in midweek, meaning that City’s outside chances of a place in the Top 3 in 5 weeks time is still very much a possibility. Despite this however, anything less than a 6 point bank holiday weekend will effectively mean City are out of the race unfortunately, unless the Swindon and MK Dons have an awful time over the weekend.

 

City will have to improve on recent displays though, and despite not playing badly at the weekend it was frustrating watch City restrict Rochdale to the occasional long range shot, to then concede to very slopping goals late on after pretty much controlling the game. It’s been a sign of things for City since the home game against Rochdale, the fact that City haven’t scored more than twice since sticking 7 past the Dale says it all.

 

City have no fresh injury or suspension worries thankfully, but the main talking point will be who starts in midfield. Hughes was dropped for the Swindon game whereas Frecklington was left out for the Rochdale game (although this was mainly due to a slight back injury), both making way for Peter Holmes. It’s anyone’s guess who will be dropped this week.

 

Other than the midfield situation, there should be no real surprises with regards to other positions for the Stockport game. Obviously the team to start at Darlington will depend heavily on what happens on Saturday afternoon. It is definitely a weekend where the Imps will need to be full strength to have a chance at automatic promotion.

 

Stockport currently appear to be a midtable side punching above their weight, and if it hadn’t been for that unbelievable run then their season would already be effectively over. In typical footballing tradition, a long run was ended and then you can’t stop the opposite of the run. Stockport obviously went 9 games in a row, then a trip to Barnet saw Stockport concede their first goal under Wayne Hennesey, he was so shocked that he’d finally conceded that he didn’t even make an effort to get to the 3^rd goal that Barnet stuffed past him.

 

5 winless games later has seen Stockport’s dark-horses push for automatic promotion turn into a nervous look over their shoulders. They’ve conceded 16 goals in the last 5 games, including 7 at home to Rochdale, not to mention surrendering a 3-0 lead to Hartlepool. A 1-0 defeat to struggling Torquay signifies their struggles because, with no offence to Torquay, any team not fighting relegation should be easily capable of beating Torquay.

 

Darlington are an odd side to say the least. Man for man they are up their with anyone in the division, but as a team they just seem incapable of capitalising on a very average Wycombe side’s season long stumble. After being tipped by many (mainly their own fans) Darlington got off to a perfect start, beating Macclesfield and Accrington. After that they struggled until Dave Hodgson was sacked for apparently being interested in the Bournemouth job.

 

Dave Penney took over and the fortunes automatically changed, winning 6 games in a row in all competitions, that just before losing 7 in a row. That inconsistency has cost Darlington a playoff place in the last 2 seasons and will more than likely do so again this season. Their form is also far from perfect, winning just one of the last 5 and not scoring in 3 of those.