By Nathan Jackson
November 11 2010

Steve Tilson takes his Lincoln side to Morecambe's new Globe arena in search of his first win as Lincoln City manager. The Imps have moved into the relegation zone following on from a defeat to Northampton, but a victory in the FA Cup means that City can record back to back victories for the first time since January.

To say this season has been tough on City so far would be an understatement. Just three victories in the League all season and last week showed why City have struggled in the League. No-one at Sincil Bank would have been convinced by City's performance throughout the match saw them struggle to overcome a Nuneaton side who had spirit, but not much skill.

Looking at it realistically, Steve Tilson's four games in charge have only seen one impressive display, a 2-2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers, but other than that it's been the aforementioned game against Nuneaton, a 0-0 draw with Stockport and a 2-0 defeat to Northampton. However, the most worrying thing is that there have been quotes from people in the club where they have said they don't want this season to involve another relegation battle....a strange thing to say given that we are currently in the relegation zone....that strikes me as being a relegation battle.

Let's not beat around the bush, we are certainly in real danger of going down the non-League at the end of the season. Realistically the two worst sides in the division are currently in the bottom two and Tilson certainly has his work cut out to avoid seeing City in the non-League next year. Also, the notes in last week's programme against Nuneaton effectively ruled out mass changes in January, Bob Dorrian stating that the changing of managers has seriously weakened City's finances.

In some ways it is ideal that our next opponents are Morecambe and in other's it is a nightmare. They have only won twice at their new stadium in eight attempts, even Barnet picked up a point there. However, they have also only lost once in their new stadium, a 4-1 mauling against Bury. Morecambe were arguably the best side City played last season, confidently beating the Imps 3-1 twice and they did it by doing something City have lacked for some time, the ability to do the basics.

City will be without Clark Keltie as he serves a one-match ban following his sending off against Nuneaton, but he is the only guaranteed absentee from City's side. Adam Watts could miss out due to an achilles injury, he will face a late fitness test.

THE LIKELY CITY STARTING XI
	Didn't have anything to do during the Nuneaton game and in all fairness, often doesn't have a lot to do, which makes his general lack of clean sheets quite worrying.    Still, he will start the game, unless Tilson randomly starts Musslewhite.
	Clapham has slotted neatly into the left back position since Tilson arrived and has arguably been the best outfield player all-around of the season.
	Gowling has had a mixed start to life at Sincil Bank, but is the only realistically good centre back that the Imps will definitely have fit. Many are expecting his loan spell to be made permanent at some point.
	Swaibu must love it when other defenders are injured as it's the only time he ever really gets a game. He made his City debut at Morecambe in February 2009.
	From the Emirates to the Globe Arena, life must be pretty strange for Hoyte at the moment.   He has shown he is decent going forward and staying back and attacking.
	It's only when Scott Kerr doesn't play that you actually realise what he brings to the team, a bit of grit and determination. I've been a heavy critic of Kerr down the year, but in a relegation battle he is probably the man to have as captain. He's a presence on the pitch, something which City desperately need.
	His free kick winner against Nuneaton hid an otherwise poor recent run of form. Runs down the left, plays the ball in when no-one's there to receive it....maybe if he actually looked up before crossing it then his crosses might be more effective.
	He's the box to box midfielder than we were promised when Josh O'Keefe arrived. He's certainly not afraid to shoot or tackle.
	It's Carayol, there's nothing more to say.
	It's a sad state of affairs when fans get excited when Delroy comes onto the pitch in the hopes it will liven up the attack.   24 games and just 1 goal, optimism not at a high.
	I still have absolutely no idea what he brings to the side. It's not goals, it's certainly not effort, nor motivation to the other players. However, it doesn't seem to matter how bad he plays, he always seems to start.

Other than the last three seasons, meetings between City and Morecambe haven't been plentiful, although the clubs did meet each other in the 2000/1 LDV Vans Trophy, City eventually winning 3-2 with a Lee Thorpe hatrick......City didn't score another hatrick until the 2006/7 season when Forrester hit three past Rochdale.

Morecambe won promotion to the League in 2007 and the first meeting after that turned out to be the last time John Schofield took charge of City at Sincil Bank. Ryan Amoo gave City a lead before a Lee Beevers own-goal gave Morecambe a draw in a game where they showed no attacking intent whatsoever. The sides would meet again in the penultimate match of the season and despite Morecambe dominating the first half, Ben Wright and Paul Green gave City a 2-0 lead before a 94th minute goal for Blinkhorn pulled one back for the hosts.

2008/9 saw another frustrating meeting between the sides at Sincil Bank. Frecklington gave City the lead before Stanley scored from near 45 yards on the stroke of half time, it ended 1-1. The return fixture was initially postponed and then played on a cold Tuesday February night in front of less than 1,500 fans. Bentley gave Morecambe the lead through a simple header from six yards before Paul Green scored from the edge of the box with five minutes to go.

Last season saw Morecambe easily defeat City 3-1 twice. 10 man City were 3-0 down at Christie Park through goals from Drummond, Jevons and Mullin before former Shrimper Rene Howe scored a consolation for City, it would be the last goal he would score for the Imps before returning to Peterborough. Stanley gave Morecambe an early lead at Sincil Bank in April before Hughton levelled, however, goals from Mullin and Curtis saw Morecambe become just the second side to win at Sincil Bank in 2010.

Neither side currently contains any former players of the other. The clubs have shared just two players in their first teams over the last ten years, Ben Smith and Rene Howe. Former City youth team goalkeeper Scott Loach has also played for Morecambe during the last ten years.

I felt sorry for Morecambe last season, all that hard work and to come so close to automatic promotion, only to then lose the first leg of their Playoffs 6-0, at least they won the second leg, meaning victory in their last ever match at Christie Park.

Morecambe's start to this season has mirrored last season's start, in other words it's not been great. They had to wait until October 9th to record the first victory in their new stadium, a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury, although they did beat Stockport 5-0 in their last outing at The Globe Arena.

They are still managed by Sammy McIlroy, a manager who's reputation is formidable, even managing to get Macclesfield promotion to what is now League One in 1998 with Lincoln. He has since won promotion to the League with Morecambe and came within a few games of promotion last season, only to fall at the last hurdle.

As I mentioned earlier in the preview, he has assembled a squad that is capable of doing all the basics, and they have now got the goalscorer they've seemingly never had at this level, signing Phil Jevons permanently after his loan spell last season. Jevons has scored plenty of goals throughout his career in League Two, including an impressive 29 goals in the 2004/5 season to help Yeovil win promotion. He has netted 106 goals in his League career.

Anyone underesting Morecambe is in for a shock.

Imps aim for Tilson's first League win at Morecambe

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 12/11/2010 22:36

theimps.ka
12/11/2010 22:36

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