So the Carliing Cup starts up again and this time, the Imps face off against Championship side Crewe. Infact, if a mere 2 results had gone differently last season, this would have been a league game. City have an extremely hard task ahead of them if they're aiming for a repeat of last year's "giant killing" of Derby County, as suspensions and injuries have meant that several vital elements of the Imps squad are gone.

If City do win, they could face games against Premiership opposition such as Newcastle, Tottenham, Wigan, Charlton and several other of the countries biggest teams. 

City will definatly be without Paul Morgan and Paul Mayo who both serve serve bans for sending offs in the games against Chester and Oxford respectively. Gareth McAuley, who has missed the last two games, looks set to remain on the sidelines and this means that a forced change in formation could also be the chance to several fringe players to impress. Scott Kerr should also make an appearance after shaking of an injury sustained at the end of Saturday's game.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers     Bloomer      McCombe     Foster

Brown   Kerr    Cyran

Molango     Asamoah      Birch

As I said above, if 2 matches had been different last season, this would have been a league game. Of course City would have had to have won the playoff final, wheras Crewe went into the last game of last season, desperatly needing a win and hoping results would go their way, to survive relegation from the Championship. Crewe had sold Dean Ashton and with immediate effect, they went on a very long unvictorious run. Infact, their only other win before that game in the calender year, had come against Leeds United on New Years Day. 19 games and no wins later, Coventry made their way to Gresty Road. A 2-1 win over the Sky Blues, coupled with Nottingham Forest's relegation over Gillingham, relegated the Kent club and Crewe were safe, JUST.

Crewe are so far unbeaten this season. They beat Burnley 2-1 on the opening day, since then, they've had 3 draws against Norwich, Brighton and Leicester. This will be far from an easy game.

The last meeting between the two sides was during the 1993/4 season when the Staffordshire Club, won 2-1 at Sincil Bank.

City haven't beaten Crewe since the 1988/9 season when the Imps won 2-1 in the League Cup First Round Second Leg to win 3-2 on aggregate. A repeat would be very welcome but highly unlikely.