By Nathan Jackson
November 19 2010

Lincoln City head into a vital six-pointer against Hereford United hoping for a third win in a row in all competition for the first time since 2008. Following wins against Nuneaton and Morecambe the hope around Sincil Bank has risen, and the newly announced financial problems means this game has added relevance.

Hope around Sincil Bank has increased in recent weeks with only one defeat since Steve Tilson took the helm in the middle of October. Back-to-back wins against Nuneaton and Morecambe may not sound overly impressive, but it's an important set of results as it increases the confidence in the team and increases the chances of survival. Infact it was that win over Morecambe that saw City be replaced by Hereford in the relegation zone.

If City do back it three wins in a row in all competitions, it will be the first time since October 2008, when the Imps won four in a row.

However, the day before the game, focus has turned amongst the fans to off the field matters after the club accounts showed that the Imps are more than £3m in debt. We knew that the club weren't rolling in money but even £3m is a bit of surprise. It means that when the Imps and Hereford meet yet again next week, the importance of going through doubles.

It promises to be an interesting double-header between two clubs who have had difficult starts to the season and these games could easily be the turn the season for one of the clubs, for the better of the worse.

Adam Watts returns from injury and Clark Keltie returns from a ban, both are expected to go straight back into the first team due to the suspension of Swaibu and the injury that has seen Luke Howell return to MK Dons. Other than that the Imps are at full strength.

THE LIKELY CITY STARTING XI
	Assuming he does play, he will be making his 125th Football League start, 16 of which have come for the Imps and he will be hoping for just his fifth clean sheet in that time.
	In 16 years as a professional, Clapham will face Hereford in a League game for the first time on Saturday. Needs 1 more goal to reach the 20 mark in his career.
	It was confirmed earlier in the week that he will be returning to Gillingham when his loan spell expires in just under two weeks. The former Hereford man has already faced his former club once this season, securing a 0-0 draw with Gillingham a week before the Gills lost to City.
	Watts has returned to training with the team this week following on from injury and will almost certainly go straight back into the starting line up, mainly because no other central defender is available.
	Hoyte will play his 30th ever League game and his fifth game for City if he starts against Hereford United.
	In a game where plenty of Imps make a rounded number of appearances for the Imps, Mr Kerr will also be making his 215th League appearance for the club, assuming he comes on of course.
	Jarrett scored in the final minute of City's final home game and set up the equaliser against Morecambe, it's been a good last few weeks.
	Due to return to the squad after his suspension and will be hoping his 26th League appearance for the Imps proves to be far better than his 25th, in which he got sent off.
	Will play his 15th League game for City if he plays and he has received rave reviews in recent weeks, against a slow lump like Janos Kovacs, he could be laughing.
	It may have taken 3 and a half games but Grimes finally played well against Morecambe and you've never seen a goal suddenly turn a non-impact player to someone who looks like he could tear teams apart.
	Mr Hutchinson has an interesting interview with the Echo this week and this will be the first League game at Sincil Bank since that alledged incident several weeks ago.

This is Hereford's fifth year in the League and season have faced the Bulls in three of the previous four seasons. It all started when the Imps became the first side to visit Hereford since they returned to the League in August 2006, a Mark Stallard brace capped a brilliant performance from City that gave a first win of the season with a 2-1 scoreline. Skip forward to February and Hereford visited Sincil Bank just days after City had won at Walsall to go second....a 4-1 win for Hereford later and City's season collapsed, the Imps only securing two wins from that point onwards and ever since that night, City have been on a downward spiral.

The following season saw the clubs have to wait until December to play each other, however, City were no match for Hereford and despite a Lee Frecklington equaliser, Hereford ran out 3-1 winners. The return fixture saw Scott Kerr sent off before a Dany N'Guessan double, eventually seeing City win 2-1 just weeks before Hereford won promotion.

They made an immediate return to the division and the clubs didn't meet until February last season. Gavin McCallum scored twice at Edgar Street to secure Hereford three points, but the return fixture at Sincil Bank saw arguably City's best performance of the season, also featuring arguably the goal of last season from Matt Saunders. It was the highest attendance of City's season, but mainly due to the fact the World Cup was at Sincil Bank and there was a chance to get your photo taken of it.

Not many players have played for both clubs over the past ten years. Current Imps Gavin McCallum and Josh Gowling use to play for Hereford, whereas Janos Kovacs plays for Hereford after only just leaving City earlier this year. Other than that, the clubs have only shared Scott Willis (above right), Rob Betts and Guy Ipoua have represented both.

Hereford haven't had the best start to the season to say the least. They started it by hiring Simon Davey following the saga that saw him leave Darlington in the summer. Despite an opening day win at Hereford, the Bulls quickly found themselves bottom and they didn't win again under Davey. He was sacked and replaced by Pitman, whom hasn't lost as Hereford manager yet, including winning 5-0 on their last away trip, all three of their last games have been at home.

They also recorded one of the most noteworthy wins of the season, coming from 3-0 down at Northampton to win 4-3 and they haven't looked back since. Despite not losing since October 2nd in the League, a 1-1 draw with Cheltenham last weekend saw the slip back into the relegation zone and there is still a chance that they could still join a list of clubs to be relegated in their fifth year in the Football League, following on from Kidderminster, Rushden, Boston and Chester, Barnet also almost joined that group last season but avoideded it on the final day.

Hereford will move out of the relegation zone if they leave Lincoln with three points, whereas they could go bottom if City win.

Imps aim for a rare third in a row

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 19/11/2010 22:11

theimps.ka
19/11/2010 22:11

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