By Nathan Jackson
December 17 2009

Lincoln City's latest attempt to get a victory could reach an imperfect ten. City haven't won in nine league games and will travel to Hereford United on Friday night, with the hosts having an excellent home record.  

As Lincoln City approach their 125^th Christmas as a football club, it's take we take a step back and analyse what is happening at the club. Everyone thought Jackson was bad because of his inability to win games, and he's been replaced by someone who is no different. Spin it any way you want, but only two wins in the eleven games he has managed in the League, it's simply not good enough.  

Since we went on this run of nine League games without a win, we have gone below all but two of the teams that were below us in the table, and you're struggling to see where the next win is coming from. Many will look at the game at Darlington as the best chance for a win, but let's not forgot that not only have we lost three of our last four League games at their stadium, we've already lost there this season in the JPT.

One of the mainstays of Sutton's time in charge has been his constant changing of the side and last week's 3-1 defeat to Rochdale was actually the first time since Sutton came to the club that he fielded an unchanged side. The starting XI against Rochdale also started the fortunate draw at Crewe. So based on that fact and there's not any new injuries to the side, I can actually see Sutton fielding the same side, although the club has confirmed that Paul Green will travel with the side.

If this is the case then Rob Burch will have Nathan Baker, Adam Watts, Eric Lichaj and Moses Swaibu directly in front of him. Kerr and Clarke will probably both play an hour before their seemingly obligatory substitution. Herd and Hughton on the wings with the ineffective partnership of Jamie Clarke and Delroy Facey up front.

Hereford themselves aren't on a great run of form, losing four of their last six games, including a 4-1 home defeat on Tuesday evening. They've haven't really been enjoying their return to the division, only enjoying back to back League wins once. However, don't be fooled into thinking this will be an easier game than normal. Their record at home has seen them win half of the games at Edgar Street in the League and they've lost only twice.

The games at Edgar Street since Hereford returned to the Football League have been mixed. City were the first visitors to them after they returned in 2006. A brilliant City performance had seen a Mark Stallard double give City a comfortable lead. Jeff Hughes, Lee Frecklington and several others had excellent chances to extend the lead. However, a Beevers foul on Tim Sills gave Hereford a way back into the game from the spot, and the hosts did have a last minute Alan Connell strike disallowed.

15 months later and Peter Jackson was in charge and the performance was spirited, but Lee Frecklington's equaliser made little difference as the Bulls comfortably won 3-1.

City can only realistically go up one place if they win, whereas with Grimsby playing Morecambe, a swing of four goals could put us into the relegation zone.

Going head to head with the Bulls

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 17/12/2009 18:37

theimps.tk
17/12/2009 18:37

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StratfordImp
18/12/2009 13:28

Bottom 2 this weekend is a worringly and depressingly realistic scenrio!!

Come on lads get a result for the love of god!!

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