The form of Hereford United and Lincoln City, plus the goals prowess of Fleetwood and Goal grabbing Grimes, despite the recently departed Manset; shows that League tables can indeed mask the true form of two sides on the up. No one, Bradford City and the clipped Gulls being the latest scalps, want to go head to head against two well oiled machines with the momentum of a steam locomotive. Merrily they shout on the Merton Meadow terrace and the Stacey West - " The Football League is upside down, do da, do da!"
The Bulls have won 6 games on the trot against League 2 opposition in league and Cup and lead the current form table; whilst the illustrious Imps have won four. Due to Hereford having the weekend off in the Cup (lost 1-4 to Sheffield Wednesday) the Imps have overtaken the Bulls and sit three points above them in 19th whilst the Bulls sit 20th but both have blood and scalps aplenty dripping from their horns.
The grredy goal machines met just 28 days ago when the Bulls ran out 4-3 winners in the cup with braces from Fleetwood and Manset for the Bulls and consolations courtesy of Clapham, Facey and Grimes for the Imps. Will this one be as richly populated with goals dare we ask? Certainly Fleetwood aflame and hot on the heels of a Gulls brace, plus fellow predatory penalty box duelist and 8 in 9 Grimes will always oblige, even if moules mariniere Manset has left for a pretty penny.
Both sides have been investing in new years resolutions with The Imps defence in particular, a totally different beast. But you feel this game to be pistols at six, or rather 3 as in Post Meridiem; with both sides aiming to outscore the other. Mmmm whilst Edgar eagerly expects those tuning into BBC Lincs radios back home will ceratinly do so with confidence. So Sincil salivates..............
The Teams & Schemes?
Hereford 4-4-2
Bartlett
Green Kovacs Townsend Purdie
Colbeck Rose McQuoikin Lunt
Jervis Fleetwood
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Hoyte Hone Hunt Kelly
Howell Fuseini O'Keefe McCallum
Grimes Facey
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2010/2011 | Sat 08 Jan | Lincoln City | 3 - 4 | Hereford Utd. | FAC |
| 2010/2011 | Sat 27 Nov | Hereford Utd. | 2 - 2 | Lincoln City | FAC |
| 2010/2011 | Sat 20 Nov | Lincoln City | 3 - 1 | Hereford Utd. | LGE2 |
| 2009/2010 | Fri 12 Mar | Lincoln City | 3 - 1 | Hereford Utd. | LGE2 |
| 2009/2010 | Tue 02 Feb | Hereford Utd. | 2 - 0 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Mon 24 Mar | Lincoln City | 2 - 1 | Hereford Utd. | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 08 Dec | Hereford Utd. | 3 - 1 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
The headline form masks the fact that although Hereford United are unbeaten in their last six home games, three have been draws, something the Imps are well overdue for. The Bulls tend to have high scoring affairs scoring bagging 15 goals and conceding 7.
The Imps are becoming an impressive beast away from home. losing once in six with four handsome wins and plenty of goals. The last three games, have seen three wins with 8 goals for and 5 against.
Despite being the in form sides in League 2 these two sides still have it all to do. The Bulls lay 20th in Npower League Two having mustered a points tally of 28 from their 25 matches played, while Lincoln City are currently lying in 19th having mustered a points 31 from 25 matches played.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Hereford Utd. | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 15 |
| Lincoln City | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 12 |
Lincoln City Mad's prediction ...
Neil says - All aboard the playoff express a 5th straight win for the Imps 3-1
Vic Erzantarz - Imps win although a draw is due 2-1
Ivan Impgrass - score draw 1-1
Bishop Len ' Me Bren gun and a quadruple Bells please' has again blessed the Imps ahead of the fixture.
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Hereford Utd. | Unbeaten in the last 9 home games. Not drawn a match in their last 7 . |
| Lincoln City | 3 successive away victories. 5 games since last away draw. Won each of the previous 4 matches. Last drawn game 9 outings ago. |