By Nathan Jackson
April 16 2010

Lincoln City could be celebrating safety if they win at Shrewsbury Town. That combined with Grimsby failing to win would confirm another year of League football for City, however, Shrewsbury are due a win at home over the Imps and haven't secured a 3 point home haul over City since 2000/1.

For 42 games the Imps have struggled to pull away from the relegation zone, even our season high 7^th place saw us just a mere handful of points above the bottom two. It's been an up and down season that has seen us at times only be out of the bottom two by a point, to on occasions being what appeared a seemingly uncatchable gap, but the game at Shrewsbury offers something that we haven't had all season, guaranteed survival.

A victory at Shrewsbury, which would be City's sixth in seven attempts at Shrewsbury Town, would mean that only a Grimsby Town victory could deny City safety. The Mariners are at home to rapidly improving Torquay United and City currently have an eight point gap over the Mariners. In theory, a draw for City would realistically be enough if Grimsby lose at it would mean Grimsby would be nine points behind with three to play and with a goal difference to catch up.

The one thing that is for sure is that City must concentrate on their own game, we can't afford to concentrate on games elsewhere as we can't help what happens at Blundell Park, meaning that we must concentrate on extending our undefeated streak at Shrewsbury, a run that stretches back 10 years.

Tuesday night's defeat at Notts County was more costly than not getting points as City are now without yet another defender and one of their most creative midfielders

Swaibu misses the remainder of the season through both injury and suspension after suffering broken ribs due to a 50/50 challenge that saw him get a red and the other guy left unpunished (and uninjured). Chris Herd's season is also over due to injury, Paul Green and Joe Anderson will also almost certainly miss out. They join Adam Watts and Ian Pearce on the injury.

Due to this it could see a return the starting line up for various fringe players such as Gilmour, Butcher and Gordon. Unfortunately LJL isn't injured and given that Sutton seems oblivious to LJL's level of incompetence as a footballer, he could easily find himself starting the game.

Cian Hughton is also still out through suspension.

OUR EXPECTED CITY STARTING LINE UP
	Burch was both hero and villain against Notts County. He was at fault for the first goal and didn’t communicate at all with Baker for what could have been a penalty. Funnily enough he is likely to end his career with the Imps against Macclesfield, which will also be his 100th appearance for City.
	Even though he’s one of only two fit centre-backs, you wouldn’t bet against Danny Hone still not starting against Shrewsbury.
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE	Nathan Baker has certainly changed his style since returning from injury and he’s now actually a half decent defender and has performed excellently in the last two games.
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE	James Reid has been at the club for about a month and a half now and he could finally be set to make his debut. Having recent played in defence in the reserves, he could start at left back.
	Steven Lennon moved to right back and did reasonably well after Swaibu got suspended the other day, so he will probably continue in that position against Shrewsbury.
	I suppose if there’s one player you need in a relegation battle, it’s someone who you know will battle, try and wave his arms about.
	Chris Herd is injured......hello Shane.
	ß--Matt Saunders At least one of our midfielders knows how to stay out of injury and free from suspension.
NO PICTURE AVAILABLE	Michael Gordon has been begging for a chance for months and did reasonable well against Notts County when he came on the other day.  If he starts, expect him to try and make the best of his opportunity.
	Brilliant against Bournemouth but fairly anonymous against Notts County, you don’t know what you’re going to get from Somma these days but he’s pretty much the only one who ever looks like scoring....unlike who we suspect will be his strike partner.
	If you’re going somewhere and have no intent to attack, Paul Connor’s probably your best bet as he’s about as likely to score as David Cameron and Gordon Brown are to be stood next to each other for half an hour and not argue like children.

As mentioned earlier, the Imps have an excellent record at Shrewsbury in recent years, but due to poor results at home, it's probably best we described our games against Shrewsbury as mixed.

Seeing as the two teams play each other on a regular basis, we'll start at the season where City's unbeaten run at Shrewsbury started, 2001/2. Mick Heathcote gave Shrewsbury the lead before Steve Holmes equalised from the spot. Shrewsbury won the game at Sincil Bank later in the season thanks to goals from Rodgers and Tolley scored either side of a Lee Thorpe equaliser.

The sides met early in 2002/3 as goals from Adie Mike and Ben Sedgemore from the spot turned the game around after an early Rodgers goal. However, around two months later Shrewsbury did the same to the Imps in the LDV Vans Trophy. Adam Buckley scored his only goal for the Imps directly from a free kick before Rodgers equalised and Moss scored the "Silver Goal" (I bet you haven't heard that phrase in a LONG time). The League game at Sincil Bank ended 1-1.

Shrewsbury spent the following season in the Conference and the Imps were their first opponents when they returned in 2004. Despite dominating the game, Shrewsbury succumbed to a Gary Taylor-Fletcher goal half-way through the match. A Yeo double secured the points in the game at Sincil Bank in March of that season.....City haven't beaten Shrewsbury at home since then.

A 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank in November 2005 was followed by the teams meeting in the penultimate game of the season. Both sides were involved in the Playoff race and Gareth McAuley's header gave the Imps the win to effectively secure the place in the Playoffs.

Lee Frecklington's early effort in City's last ever visit to Gay Meadow was enough to secure the points, although Ben Davies did hit the bar from a penalty. Frecklington again scored against Shrewsbury at Sincil Bank, but a late equaliser denied City the points. Had it not been for Grimsby Town's 93^rd minute equaliser on the final day of the season, City and Shrewsbury would have met in the Playoff Semi Finals, as it turns out both went out to Bristol Rovers at various stages.

Shrewsbury record a 4-0 win at Sincil Bank on the opening day of the following season but City gained revenge in February. A Louis Dodds double cancelled out a Ben Davies free kick to start a five match winning run that effectively secured League status for another year. Both games last season ended 0-0.

The game at Sincil Bank in September ended 2-0 to Shrewsbury.

Shrewsbury Town are having a bit of a Playoff hangover. They left reaching the Playoffs very late last season, only qualifying on the last day before equalising on aggregate in the Playoff Semi Finals with three minutes to go, however, they lost the final in added on time to Simeon Jackson's goal for Gillingham.

They spent most of this season on the outskirts of the Playoffs but a recent run of only two wins in eleven games, including seven defeats, has been them fall down the table into obscurity. Other than the odd glimpse here and there, Shrewsbury have been never consistent enough to mount another Playoff campaign. Saturday's 3-0 win over Crewe was their biggest win of the season, which really tells it's own story when you compare it to defeats of 5-0, 4-0 and 3-0 on a few occasions, not to forget a home defeat to Staines Town in the FA Cup.

Shrewsbury have failed to score in seven of their last eleven games (and one of the ones they did score was an own goal), although they haven't conceded in their last two games and they might have found a new star in Bradshaw after he scored a stunning goal at Crewe.

Shrewsbury have no former Imps, although they do have a few players who have been linked to City down the years. Jamie Cureton (if you believe one certain unreliable website) was apparently going to join us on loan earlier in the season, whereas Jake Robinson was a pre-season target. Craig Disley was a target for Alexander back in 2005, but he wanted £4,000 a week.

Amusingly Shrewsbury have David Button in goal, anyone who's trying to figure out who he is....think back to the Bournemouth game last season.

A chance for safety at Shrewsbury Town

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 16/04/2010 23:19

theimps.ka
16/04/2010 23:19

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sammyimp
17/04/2010 08:18

Burch isnt leaving Nathan lol..... Im hoping to secure safety today, my nerves are shot after Tuesday, dont know how much more i can take...

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