The Imps V Cheltenham game is a cup final, a 6 pointer a relegation dogfight supreme at the season’s sunset. For with just 2 games left after its completion the vanquished will have little time to pull themselves clear and arrest what is already a shocking run of form for both parties. The victors however, will be home and dry and safe for another season whether they deserve it or not.
Fortune favours the brave reasons the two managers. ilson goes 4-4-2 and welcomes back Ashley goal machine Grimes despite an injury list just longer than his departing loans list. Yates meanwhile is hoping his 19 goal forward, Thomas will come good. The striker, along with the rest of his side will hopefully take the lambasting of Chairman Bates on board and ram his words back down his throat
The Cheltenham game will inevitably be one to remember one way or another as Tilson reasons attack is the best form of defence and that a rousing 4-4-2 attacking display will unite Impdom at an impassioned Sincil Bank. It will need to exceed the passion and scoreline of last season, when a 1-1 draw ensured 3 saw red. Let us hope so for we wish to be singing our way along the Sincil Drain this evening not gurgling down it.
But fortunately the messiah has returned in the nick of time. So as long as Grimes chimes one nil to the mighty Imps would do just fine as we Imps our hearts and lungs and souls entwine. Amen to a Bank Holiday Bacchanalian at the Bank.
Here are the teams & schemes hopefully minus any screams.
Imps 4-4-2
Parish
Hughton Green Hone Anderson
Howell Fuseini Kilbey McCallum
Hutchinson Grimes
The Robins Go 4-1-2-1-2
Brown
Gallinagh Riley Elliott Andrew
Bird
Pack Low
Smikle
Green Thomas
Recent encounters between the teams
The past is best left there in all honesty. On top of our awful home record we have won just one of our 7 home games against the Robins with 3 draws and 3 defeats. Since our first match at Whaddon Road in 1999 in the FA cup we have played 9 won 3 and lost 6.
The games are nothing if not fiercely contested as last season’s 1-1 score war will attest. Justin Richards gave the Robins the lead on 12 after we failed to deal with a corner. The Imps equalised on 47 minutes when Clapham also concerted a corner and liked good for a rousing finale until Aaron Brown saw a straight red on 69 for an innocuous mis timed challenge in front of the dugouts. Gamesmanship from the opposing bench had a part to play in that and the ensuing melee that saw former Imp Richardson and Ian Perarce see red with Chris Sutton also sent to the Echo stand. As for John Schofield, well ‘butter apparently wouldn’t melt.’ Food for thought as the 3008 crowd (inc 112 Robins) saw the game peter out after that to rob us of a much needed win at our very own bank.
| Season | Date | Team | Result | Team | Comp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/2011 | Tue 25 Jan | Cheltenham T. | 1 - 2 | Lincoln City | League Two |
| 2009/2010 | Sat 03 Apr | Cheltenham T. | 1 - 0 | Lincoln City | League Two |
| 2009/2010 | Sat 14 Nov | Lincoln City | 1 - 1 | Cheltenham T. | League Two |
| 2005/2006 | Fri 18 Nov | Cheltenham T. | 4 - 1 | Lincoln City | League Two |
| 2005/2006 | Fri 07 Oct | Lincoln City | 0 - 1 | Cheltenham T. | League Two |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 26 Feb | Cheltenham T. | 1 - 0 | Lincoln City | League Two |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 11 Dec | Lincoln City | 0 - 0 | Cheltenham T. | League Two |
For a detailed analysis of the complete head-to-head record between the two sides, click here
Recent respective form guides
It’s a must win for two sides desperately out of sorts. The Imps have won two from 6 at home with 3 defeats and garnered 1 point in our last 7 games. It is a good job Thomas is out of sorts given we have conceded 14 goals and scored 5 in that hapless half dozen at the Bank.
The Robins have just one win in 6 trips, scoring 6 and conceding 19, although 8 of those came at Crewe and 2 at Bury who they did 3-2.
Both sides are perilously close after Saturday just with 47 points for the Imps and 48 for Cheltenham Town. The only thing more worrying than the League table for both sides is the current form one…. But onwards and upwards eh Imps?
Current overall team form
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln City | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| Cheltenham Town | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 1 |
For a detailed analysis of current team form guides in this or any division, click here
FootyMad's prediction ...
DR Drone: Lincoln City come good at the Bank 3-0 Grimes hat trick cue a Bank holiday binge to remember
Neil: A win for the Imps 2-1 – A Grimes Brace and A baccanaelian at the Bank
Vic I can see a nervous 0-0 draw
Ivan: A smash and grab for the Robins 0-2 with Thomas like so many strikers before him finding his shooting boots in our back yard.
Sequence statistics
| Team | Sequences |
|---|---|
| Lincoln City | Been beaten in each of their previous 2 home matches. Failed to win in previous 2 home matches. Not won in the 8 most recent games. |
| Cheltenham Town | Lost each of the previous 3 away matches. Not won in previous 3 away matches. An overall losing run of 2 games. No win in the 6 most recent games. |
For a detailed analysis of current team sequences throughout the leagues, click here