By theimps.tk
May 5 2006

City are just 90 minutes away from a potential 4th straight playoffs and in their way are midtable Rochdale. If City avoid defeat then we're definatly in the playoffs but even a defeat could still see us in their as the only team who can realistically take us over, Peterborough, are playing Wycombe

It will be a nervous day for all at Sincil Bank when the Imps kick off what could be their last league game at Sincil Bank in League 2 for a while. After 45 agonisingly stressful games, we finally reach the final game of the regular season and for the 3rd year in 9, it's good ol' Rochdale, ironically the same team that won at Sincil Bank 9 years ago to deny City a playoff place then as well. The last 2 final days have seen the Imps have a comfortable goal difference and only freak results would have seen the Imps finish outside the playoffs but just like the first season in Cardiff, our goal difference is extremely close to the teams chasing us.

Back in January, the majority of Lincoln fans were set for a season of midtable mediocrity despite being just 4 points off the playoffs at the turn of the year. Maybe it's a testament to how poor the division is and not City's spirit that the Imps had an horrendous run before the turn of the year and were still within a few points of the Top 7. A run of 1 win in 12 games seemed to condemn the Imps to another season of bottom tier football, ironically that win coming at Rochdale but now the Imps are potentially just 360(ish) minutes away from League One.

However, anyone who thinks this will be a walk in the park is in for a surprise, Rochdale are a very good side and have beaten opposition of a much higher quality than the Imps this season and had it not been for the sale of prolific striker, Grant Holt, they themselves could be on the verge of the playoffs but they will be consigned to yet another season in this division. The least successful side in the division have been in the football league's bottom tier since 1974/5.

Simon Yeo declared himself fit on Thursday but it is highly doubtful he will be put straight into the starting 11, meaning that Keith will more than likely start with the combination of Forrester, Green and Marvin Robinson. It is highly likely that the starting 11 will be the same as the one that won at Shrewsbury last week

Who I think will start (Right to left)

Marriott

Beevers      Morgan    McAuley      McCombe   Hughes

Brown        Kerr

Green    M/Robinson    Forrester

 

For a while, Rochdale looked like they might actually win just their 2nd promotion in their 85 football league season history. The most unsuccessful side in the country had improved immensly last season, turning from relegation candidates to promotion chasers but they never caught up to the playoffs. They started this season as many peoples' outside bets for promotion and after facing 3 of the current top 6 in their first 4 games, many still believed that had a good chance after collecting 7 points including a 4-1 victory at Leyton Orient who hadn't lost up until that point. The less said about their Carling Cup game against Bradford is for the best.

6 wins in their next 10 games saw them chase automatic promotion for the first time in 4 years but then the turning point came with a defeat at Peterborough. After the 3-1 defeat in mid October, they have gone from outsiders to promotion to minimal escapees of relegation after winning just since games since that defeat on October 22nd and had they not had that great start, they could possibly have already joined Rushden in the conference next season. Pitch problems has also caused them to be extremely fatigued and Saturday will signal their 7th game in 3 weeks.

Their main danger is free-scoring Ricky Lambert, the 24 year old has hit 21 league goals this season, nearly double of the 11 that Imps' leading goalscorer Gary Birch has scored in all competitions. Other dangerous players include former Imps' target, Iseyden Christie and of course, everyone's friend, Mr Ernie Cooksey who hasn't made himself popular with Imps fans and he was lucky to avoid a red card at Spotland earlier in the season when Dean Keates and a Rochdale midfield got into a tangle, Cooksey ran straight towards Keates, completely avoiding the ball and his shin/knee area clearly connected with Keates' head and that sparked a mass brawl on the pitch in which Cookset was booked.