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Imps face tough test against pace-setters
By Nathan Jackson August 17 2006
Lincoln City will face arguably the toughest test so far this season as they face Richard Money's table topping Walsall. City will enter the automatic promotion places if they beat fellow unbeaten side Walsall but that may be harder than it sounds considering Walsall's start.

It's not often that you can say that if the Imps win that they could go top of the league. After a good star to the season, Imps' fans have suddenly grown optimistic and a victory on Saturday guarantee's the Imps to enter the Top 3 for the first time since the first week in 2002/3. However, to get into the Top 3, we're facing one of just two teams in the division to currently have a 100% record and along with them, comes an ex-Imp.

Dean Keates will return to Sincil Bank 7 months after leaving for his home town club following personal reasons but he couldn't keep the Saddler's from being relegated. It's odd to think that at this time of the season, there's already a game that could decide where each team spends their season. Despite it only being the 4th game, you'd fancy the victors to go on and fight for automatic promotion but the usual result at Sincil Bank over recent months would be no relative use to either side.

City haven't won at home since the 5-0 victory of Grimsby in March, since then we've played 5 League (non-playoff games) at home and each one has ended 1-1 but that's part of a run that hasn't seen the Imps lose at home in the league since last October when Wycombe were incredibly fortune that Alan Marriott decided to have a major off day.

Rayner could replace Marriott who limped off midway through the first half in Wednesday's friendly against Liverpool. The Liverpool game also gave a lot of indications as to who will be playing in the Walsall game as several first teamers didn't even appear on the bench on Wednesday as they were more than likely rested for Saturday, I bet that was an interesting conversation when Schofield told these players they wouldn't play Liverpool. Other than the Marriott/Rayner situation, it will probabl be the same team that started against Torquay.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Raynor

Beevers   Moses    Morgan    Hughes

Kerr    Frecklington   Amoo     Mayo

Stallard    Forrester

 

After selling Matt Fryatt, Walsall fell from a team that wasn't far from the playoffs, to a team that go relegated to League 2. However, this season has seen Richard Money turn that squad back into a squad highly capable of getting promotion and although they've only faced teams that are currently in the bottom 6, you can't argue with 3 wins from 3. Also their defence is yet to concede, the only side yet to let a goal in this season, whereas the attack has 5 goals from the opening 3 matches.

Walsall have several good players including goalkeeper Clayton Ince, former Hartlepool defender Chris Westwood, Ex-Imp Dean Keates and former Premiership star, Mark Kinsella. There is quality all around the Walsall squad and that is why I predicted them to finish 6th this season but even now, with just 3 games long, it looks as though they could easily finish higher.

You get the feeling that City will have to score to get anything out of the Walsall game.

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