By theimps.tk
January 16 2009

City's outside chances of the Playoffs see them take a difficult trip to Rochdale on Saturday afternoon. The Dale are one of the strongest sides in the division and have arguably the best manager in the division, so the Imps will certainly have to be on their toes as they aim for just a second victory against the other teams in the second half all season.

The Imps have a good recent record against the men from Spotland, winning in four of the last six visits, keeping a clean sheet on three of those occasions. Infact, City have a good record in general over Rochdale, winning the last three and winning five of the last seven, including that momentous 7-1 victory just over two years ago.

However, both clubs are seemingly heading in different directions. The Imps have generally started standing still in this division, whereas Rochdale and gradually pushing on for League One on a regular basis. That is mainly thanks to Keith Hill, one of the few managers in the Football League who had won more than 50% of his games in charge before the season began.

City have struggled against teams from the top half of the table this season. Currently occupying 12th place, City have played twelve games against the teams currently above them, winning just one. It's not a record that you can't really build a promotion winning challenge on, but at least it's somewhere to start.

Lincoln will again be without the services of Ben Wright, the striker continuing to struggle with a hamstring injury. Paul Green will also serve the first of his three games suspension after being sent off last week. Frank Sinclair is set to take over from Green in the right back position, the first game for some time where the back consistent back four won't be together, only Hone, Kovacs and Beevers taking their usual places.

The offical website says that Jackson will have to choose between Oakes and Frecklington to partner Kerr. If it's anything like last week then Oakes will almost certainly automatically volunteer to sit out if it means he doesn't have to break into a sweat. The speed at which he ran over to the bench to volunteer to make way for a defender after Green got sent off was the fasted he's probably ever ran. Aaron Brown and N'Guessan will more than likely play on the wings.

Despite being our leading goalscorer by a fair distance, Patulea looks set to take his place on the bench again as Horsfield and Elding are the likely starters up front.

Rochdale are having yet another good season so far, sitting just 2 points outside of the automatic promotion places, that despite not being in the Playoff places. Despite getting off to a slow start, Rochdale have surged up the table and although they will probably not fill the Champions slot that I predicted pre-season, they will certainly be one of the favourites for the top few places.

They go into the game with no new injury worries, and what worries they did have are near enough clear now. That includes Lee Thorpe, one of several ex-Imps in the Dale squad.

RANDOM FACT FOR THIS GAME

In the last 6 meetings at Spotland, 15 goals have been scored and only three of those have come at the Thwaites Beer Stand end of the ground, one of which was a Lincoln penalty in 2004/5.

Imps hope for a win to move closer to the pack

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 16/01/2009 17:31

theimps.tk
16/01/2009 17:31

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