Can City break the jinx


By Nathan Jackson
October 6 2005

City legend, John Ward, brings his Cheltenham side to Sincil Bank and are looking for their usual result. City seemingly always lose to the Gloucestershire side but Cheltenham are an inconsistant side at the minutes and if City are ever going to beat them, it surely has to be now.

You've got to laugh really, 6 league away games this season, we've taken the lead in 5 of them, the other was a 0-0 draw and we still haven't won away from home. On the contrary, our home form is relatively good. Only 2 defeats this calender year mean that City have one of the best home records in the division and we look to extend that record with Friday night's visit of Cheltenham Town.

Town were the last side to beat the Imps in a Tuesday night kick off at Sincil Bank in the lead, way back in March 2002, however, anyone who thinks this game will be an easy 3 points, is very much mistaken.

Marriott is still suspended so the Raynor will start in goal but then a joke starts. To lose 1 centre back is unfortunate, to lose 2 is unlucky, but to lose all 3 is just a joke.  Morgan is still suspended, McCombe is still injured and McAuley is on international duty. Cryan is set to be a make shift centre-back although who will partner him is unclear. Beevers will more than likely start out on the right meaning that the final place in the starting line up in defence, is between Bloomer and Foster. Other than that, it should be business as usual as far as the line up is concerned.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Raynor

Beevers   Cryan    Foster   Mayo

Brown  Kerr    Keates

Birch  M/Robinson   Asamoah

 

Cheltenham have made an indifferent start to the season. They beat Bury 2-1 on the opening day before a 2-2 draw at Macclesfield was followed by a 1-1 draw at Rochdale. However, they returned to winning ways with a comical 3-0 win over Boston. This was followed by arguably, the result of the first round of the Carling Cup when they thrashed League One high-flyers, Brentford, 5-0. However, this signalled the last game before a run of 6 games without a win. They gained 3 successive draws with 0-0 draw at Wycombe being sandwiched by two 1-1 draws at home to Orient and Barnet.

A 2-0 defeat at Wrexham was then made even more miserable by Carlisle's 3-2 victory at Whaddon Road. Cheltenham's reward for the victory over Brentford, was a trip to Premiership side, Sunderland. They matched the Premiership for the majority of the game before eventually losing out 1-0. However, this was followed by two 2-1 wins on the trot, the first away at Northampton and the second at home to Peterborough. Last Saturday saw them defeated at home by Torquay. 

To say City have't had great results recently, would be an understatement. In 2002/3, the two teams played out a very drab 0-0 draw at Sincil Bank. The return game at Whaddon Road saw the Imps' take a 3rd minute lead when Higgs pushed a Marcus Richardson shot into his own net. Cheltenham equalised midway through the half when the ever impressive, Grant McCann sent in an unstoppable free kick. City did go into the break ahead however when Richardson scored a penalty after his theatrical dive in the.

Last season, it was 0-0 at Sincil Bank again before City went to Cheltenham and pretty much controlled the game. However, Steve Gillespie's second half equaliser won the game for Cheltenham.

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