By theimps.tk
April 14 2006

One of the most vital weekends of the season has finally arrived as the Imps faced tricky ties against Bury and Wycombe. If the Imps fail to win over the weekend, it would almost certainly rule out a 4th playoff campaign in a row but we are facing 2 incredibly out of form teams.

The Easter weekend is viewed by many as the most important game of the weekend for the simple reason that there are 6 points available and most of the division's issues are solved over the weekend. Last season, the Imps gained all 6 points over Easter and those 2 wins proved vital in the Imps getting into the playoffs and if the Imps can repeat the trick this season, there's no reason why we can't be looking forward to another failed playoff campaign, however, anything less than 3 points will almost certainly mean the Imps won't be involved in the playoffs for the first time since Keith made the jump from assistant manager.

 

The Imps double header sees 2 very different prospects, one relegation battler and one promotion chaser. The Imps have a relatively good record against the Shakers, winning both of the previous 2 meetings at Sincil Bank and City will look to recreate the dominating performance at Gigg Lane earlier this season that saw Bury score a last minute equaliser with one of their very few shots on goal. In that game, the Imps scored a 35 yard belter, had 2 goals (1 of which was perfectly ok) disallowed and hit the post numerous times but not for the only time this season, the opposition scored against the run of play to get an undeserved point.

 

Wycombe are the other hand are the Imps' bogey team and this season beat the Imps at Sincil Bank when Alan Marriott won the game for Wycombe, yep, you heard that right. City had taken a confident lead through Marvin Robinson but then, a header that was in the air from ages was prosumed to be going wide by Marriott, the keeper didn't even look at the ball as he jumped wide of the goal with a leap that would resemble a triple jumper and he then looked surprised that it had gone in. The second goal was when he caught a cross but then dropped it when under no pressure at all. Ironically, Bury were the first team to beat Wycombe this season.

 

 

Lincoln City have injured players.....shock. After Imps fans being told that capttain Paul Morgan would be back by the end of January, we approach mid-April and he is still out of action and is still unlikely to feature again this season. Yeo has said that there is a possibility that he will be ready to return in time for the Wycombe match, however, this is highly unlikely and at the earliest, he will be back for next Saturday's trip to Orient. Luke Foster is prosumed injured after mysteriously disappearing for the umpteenth time this season. Gareth McAuley, another player who was supposed to be back a fair old while ago is still out injured. Other than that, there is nothing particulary new to report. 

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Cyran         Brown      McCombe  Hughes

Beevers     S/Robinson     Kerr

Green    Forrester    M/Robinson

 

Bury have been a strange side since entering this division in the 2002/3 season and making the playoffs, much to everyone's surprise. However, since losing to Bournemouth 3-1 on aggregate, Bury have come nowhere near replicating the exploits of what was one of the better sides in the division during that season. Many put that down to Andy Preece leaving as manager during the 2003/4 season and since then, they have slipped down in terms of final position each season. A 7th place in 2002/3 was followed by 12th and then 17th last season and they are in serious danger of being relegated this season and they lay in 19th spot, just 2 points above the relegation zone. Infact, if they lose, they could potentially end Saturday in the relegation zone. If they lose, they are guaranteed to move down at least one place due to Oxford and Barnet playing each other and if that game ends a draw, Bury would move down to 21st and that's assuming neither Rushden or Stockport picking up points.

 

Bury are on decent form however having lost just twice in 12 games, something you would expect from a team that has moved closer to the relegation zone every week. If Bury do avoid relegation, it will mean that the only significant thing that happened this season was the Lancashire side became the first club to score 1000 goals in each of the top 4 tiers of the country. Relegation could inevitably been the end of the club though. They are known to have severe financial problems, something that isn't helped by poor crowds and being relegated would see crowds drop, meaning less money and if that happens, you can only see a downward spiral.

 

Wycombe are a team that Sky Sports have been brown nosing all season. To their credit, they didn't lose until the week before Christmas, ironically at Bury but after a brilliant start, their guaranteed automatic promotion place has disapeared and now they will be hoping to hang onto a playoff place after collapsing in recent weeks. Many view their collapse as a result of the tragic deaths of young midfielder Mark Philo and Myra Gorman, the wife of Wycombe manager, John Gorman. It's no coincedence that their form has twindled since their deaths.

 

Infact, for a side that only lost once before Christmas, they have only won 4 times so far this calender year and that has been a potential championship winning side into one that couldn't even make the playoffs. To be perfectly honest, Wycombe were on of the worst sides I've seen this season and despite beating us, the fact that we quite literally had to hand the game to them on a plate for the 2nd year in a row says it all. They are seriously over-rated and the fact that Sky Sports' have sucked up to them all season says it all really. When Wycombe were on Sky Sports against Orient just after Christmas, all you heard was "Wycombe are great" or "Wycombe will win a deserved promotion", it just shows what Sky Sports know about this division.