Lincoln v Boston team news

Last updated : 07 February 2004 By Gary Hutchinson
Mayo - Suspended
Lincoln City will be without both Richard Butcher and Paul Mayo for the visit of Boston United today (kick off 3pm). Butcher picked up an unfortunate injury in training that will rule him out for up to ten weeks, and Mayo misses the game through suspension having collected his 5th booking of the season at home to Torquay a fortnight ago. Mayo's suspension should have been served at Bootham Crescent last weekend, but as that game fell foul to the weather he misses the big clash today.

In addition to these two absentees there is also a question mark over the fitness of rookie forward Niall McNamara who has a niggling thigh strain. There is good news on the playing side with the return of giant forward Dene Cropper and also the recovery of tricky midfielder Richard Liburd. Liburd will be a forerunner to replace Paul Mayo on the left, along with Matt Bloomer and possibly Peter Gain.
Liburd - Could Return


Possibly the best news of the afternoon for City is the return to action of Keith Alexander. Keith has been out of action since falling ill in mid November, and this will be his first game back on the bench since that testing time. His appearance is bound to lift the lads that extra little bit. With the opposition being The Imps bitter county rivals the scene is set for a full blooded and ultra competitive local derby.

Boston will be without Daryl Sutch (Achilles), Simon Rusk (thigh) and possibly defender Matt Hocking (hamstring). Forwards Mark Angel and Stuart Douglas have both shaken off niggling injuries and should be available to start if Neil Thompson requires their services.

Referee for the afternoon is Carl Boyeson who has had mixed reviews over the last few weeks. His last high profile derby game was a cup clash between Doncaster and Grimsby in which he was heavily critiscised for handling the game poorly. Hopefully Mr Boyeson will be able to keep the lid on this potentially explosive meeting.

The past three meetings between these two sides have brought two red cards (Simon Yeo and Ben Chapman) as well as a plethora of penalties, goals and incident. Besides last years 1-1 draw at the Bank, you have to go back to Easter 1988 for the previous meeting between these two sides at Lincoln. That occasion Lincoln ran out 5-1 winners!