By Nathan Jackson
December 15 2005

City will be looking to improve on a record of 2 defeats from 2 Friday night games this season, ironically against Oxford. City lost both those games against Cheltenham, a side that Oxford have to face 4 times in December. However, Friday is all about the league and a vital 3 points are at stake.

Without trying to jinx the Imps but we're starting to get on a bit of a role, 3 games unbeaten and 5 points from 9 shows a sizeable improvement on what has happened for most of the season. However, this is not a time to focus on the past as the Imps look to go into the busy Christmas/New Year period on a high with an away game against Oxford United, two teams who have failed to live up to expectations this season.

If the Imps do win (by a normal margin), they will move to 11th in the table for at least 19 hours and more importantly, increase the gap to the drop zone to 11 points.

A little reshuffling could be witnessed on Friday. There was no doubt that the Imps improved after Marvin Robinson replaced Birch after 60 minutes and that could earn the 25 year old striker a starting place. Dean Keates is a definate absentee for his first game of a 3 match suspension whereas Scott Kerr will play the last match before his suspension comes into effect. With Cryan still injured it could see Mayo being pushed up into midfield with McAuley swaping to the left back and Beevers filling in on the right.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers   Morgan    McCombe   McAuley

Kerr   Brown   Mayo

Robinson    Logan     Asamoah

 

Oxford were viewed by many as possible darkhorses for promotion, however, they haven't lived up to that billing and currently lay a point and a place above the Imps. They started the season with a creditable 1-1 draw at Grimsby before a 1-0 victory at home to Torquay before holding Wycombe to a 2-2 draw just a few days later. However, the trip to Sincil Bank not only saw the Imps' first win of the season, but Oxford's first defeat as City came from behind to win 2-1. 4 days later and a 1-0 defeat at Gillingham saw them eliminated from the Carling Cup. This was followed by a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Stockport which in turn, was followed by another away defeat, this time, a 2-0 reverse at Shrewsbury.

Two draws came out of the home game with Rushden and the trip to Bristol Rovers. However, they picked up 3 vitals wins with away victories over Darlington and Rochdale, sandwiching a home win over Bury. A 4th away trip in 5 took them to Barnet where they came away with a 1-1 draw before a 1-0 home win over Carlisle. However, the impressive run was ended with a 1-0 defeat at Northampton but their 5th away game in 7, saw them progress in the LDV on penalties thanks to a 4-3 victory after a 1-1 draw. Another creditable draw came again Boston before a defeat at Orient. A low point came with the 1-1 draw at Eastbourne Borough. A 3-0 defeat at Wrexham is the biggest defeat so far this season but 4 days later, Oxford won by the same score in the replay against Eastbourne.

Carlisle gained revenge on them with a 2-1 win at Brunton Park before Oxford progressed again in the LDV with a win over Orient, they were drawn against Cheltenham, the same side that they had drawn in the FA Cup Second Round and were due to face in the league. Grimsby won 3-2 after an impressive display at the Kassam before the Oxford vs Cheltenham marathon began.  It was the FA Cup and  Oxford made the trip down to Whaddon Road and predictably, it ended 1-1, meaning a replay and yet another meeting of the 2 sides. 4 days later and Oxford made the trip again to Cheltenham, this time in the league and this time, they claimed a 2-1 victory. An exciting 3-3 draw against Torquay on Saturday was followed by a 2-1 defeat at home to Cheltenham in the FA Cup replay and after Imps visit on Friday, Oxford made their 3rd trip to Whaddon Road in 3 weeks on Tuesday night in the LDV.