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Imps face mission impossible
By Nathan Jackson November 12 2004
It's that time of year again when all the excitement takes place, all those little non-league teams get to play higher teams and a big chance of an upset, however, the Imps are preparing to face the team with the best home record in the country and chances of getting a result are slim.

INTRODUCTION

The Imps are finally into the top 10 but will have to wait another week to possible go higher in the table as the FA CUP starts. The Imps, to quite Keith Alexander, couldn't have got a worse draw in terms of chances of getting through as the Imps face Hartlepool, who haven't lost at home this season and have only lost 5 games at Victoria Park since the beginning of the 2002/3 season.

+TEAM NEWS FOR THE IMPS

Problems afoot upfront for the Imps as Carruthurs and Green are injured meaning the only three remaining recognised regular first teams up front are all playing meaning a likely bench start for Adrian Littlejohn who returned from injury against Northampton.

One player who will want to make sure he makes and impact is ex Hartlepool player, Marcus Richardson who will be desperate for a start after getting the winner against Northampton.

Other than that, the Imps have a fully squad.

Marriott

Bloomer  McAuley  McCombe  Futcher   Sandwith

Butcher  Gain

Yeo   Richardson   Taylor-Fletcher

HARTLEPOOL UNITED

As I said earlier, Harltepool are unbeaten at home and have been arguably the best team at home in any division so far this century. They are dominant at home which shows in some results from previous seasons including an 8-1 mauling of Grimsby Town on Sky Sports.

This season has seen no let up in their home form, not losing a game at Victoria Park has seen them in a high midtable position thanks to their relativly poor away form. The home results so far are

Bradford (2-1), Blackpool (1-1), Macclesfield (CUP  - 2-1), Colchester (2-1), Barnsley (1-1), Torquay (4-1), Hull (CUP 3-3 - WON ON PENALTIES), Hull (2-0), Chesterfield (3-2), Port Vale (1-0) and Doncaster Rovers (2-1).

If anyone cacn point out a more impressive home record in ANY division anywhere. 

PREVIOUS RESULTS AGAINST HARTLEPOOL UNITED

The teams haven't met since the 2002/3 season. At Victoria Park, Hartlepool won 2-1 despite Adie Mike putting the Imps in the lead after less than a minute. However, it was a totally different story 6 months later. City were 7th having lost only 1 in 12 whereas Hartlepool were top by a LONG way and hadn't lost in 12. Goals from Pearce, Gain and Bloomer gave City a 3-0 win and Hartlepool's downfall began and they ended up finishing 2nd which is disappointing considering they were top for so long and by so much.

2002/3

Lincoln City 3 Pool 0

Pool 2 Lincoln City 1

 

PREDICTIONS

City will be lucky to get anything out fo the game and taking them to a replay would be viewed as a great result.

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