By theimps.tk
April 20 2006

Lincoln entertain Leyton Orient on Saturday and a game that both sides are desperate to win to maintain their promotion push. With both team's promotion rivals having hard games, it's vital for both that they don't lose and it'll be Jamie Forrester's last chance to impress before he returns south.

Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the greatest manager of all time (and I'm not just saying that because I support Man United) once said "It's squeeze your bum time" and the Imps have definately entered that stage of the season. With just 3 games left, the Imps are in a prime position to make the playoffs for a 4th consecutive year but to do that, they must make sure of avoiding defeat in the final 3 games that run starts with arguably the most difficult game that the Imps could have possibly hoped not to have.

 

Leyton Orient, the divison's joined best travellers come to Sincil Bank hoping that a win would see them move ever closer to that place in League 1 that they came so close to gaining 5 years ago when they lost out to Blackpool in the playoff final. However, if the Imps win results go our way, we've be 5 points clear of 8th place with just 6 to play for with our final 2 games definatly being winnable.

 

One thing that's for sure though is that the Imps must avoid defeat at all costs because a defeat would mean having to win our final 2 games to stand any chance of the playoffs.

 

 

 

With the surprise returns of both Morgan and McAuley last week, it means the Imps actually have very few injury worries and there is even a chance that Simon Yeo might return after apparantly telling several fans he would be fit after the Wycombe game, however, his inclusion is still doubtful. Whether Colin Cryan will be included is also doubtful after Lee Beevers heavily impressed over the Easter week. The most likely formation is 5-2-3 with attacking wing backs but it could very well be Forrester's final game as his loan expires after the game.

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers     McAuley      Morgan      McCombe  Hughes

Brown         Kerr

Green    Forrester    M/Robinson

 

Leyton Orient have always been a club with ambition, long before the days of Hull, Northampton, Carlisle and Wycombe, there was Orient and their chairman, boxing promoter Barry Hearn has fed millions into his club over the years and with a new look to their Brisbane Road ground, Orient are definatly a club on the up and might finally be about to win the promotion that they have been waiting for since been relegated to this division 10 years ago.

 

One factor towards Orient's relative success this season, has been their consistency and only twice have they lost back to back games and 12 games without defeat in the middle part of the season proved to keep them in a stable position for promotion after their best start to a season in more than 90 years. Typically, just like all the other sides the Imps have faced recently, Orient are in a lot of form and have lost just the once in the last 13 matches and that came as a surprise as they went down to struggling Rushden and Diamonds at Nene Park.

 

There are few squads with the talent of Orient's and in Matt Lockwood, they have easily the best left-back in the division and arguably, the best defender in the lower leagues. Gary Alexander, the former Hull striker, is always a threat and scored the opener in this season's 1-1 draw at Brisbane Road, however, his striker partner Lee Steele, hasn't come close to equalling the heights of his hatrick against the Imps last season. They you get 3 youngsters who would shine in any squad in the division, Jabo Ibehre, Gabriel Zakuani and Efe Echanomi.

 

If Orient do get promoted, they could be outside bets to go straight up against next season