A loss means all that hard work was wasted


By Nathan Jackson
March 3 2005

If City want to go to the playoff final again, they will have to get that winning mentality back. After hard work so far in 2005, the Imps have let it slip and now a loss would see all chances of 3rd place ruled out and the Imps needing to be very fortunate to keep the top 7 spot.

City, City, City, whenever we get a chance to move 3rd, we screw it up, last week produced just 1 point from 2 games, however, if we'd won them both, we'd be at least 3rd on goal difference over Swansea, Macclesfield and Southend and possibly above Scunny if we'd scored a hatful. However, this week the Imps can't move up a place due to be 5 points behind the afformentioned team but a defeat would open up the door for Northampton to take over the Imps and give Darlo the oppurtunity to be only a point behind the Imps. However, a win could see the Imps catch up on Macclesfield who themselves face Northampton, but as I said, the Imps would have to win against the team who have the best away record in the division. If City lose, they will have wasted the chance over the last 2 weeks to cement a top 7 place after being 5 points ahead of Northampton after the home game with Cambridge and comfortably within the playoff pack.

The Imps would have been looking at major changes to the squad if the reserve game against Halifax wasn't called off, but it was so the squad should be the same as last week for the most part with the only real possibility of change being the bringing in of Carruthurs to replace Green. Hanlon could also be replaced by McAuley,

Most likely formation (Right to left)

Marriott

Bloomer    McCombe      Morgan         Sandwith

Butcher     Hanlon       Gain

GTF          Yeo       Carruthurs

 

As I mentioned above, Wycombe have the best away record in the division winning 8 and drawing 4 of their 17 away matches. Those wins coming at Chester (2-0), Kidderminster (2-0), Southend 2-1, Leyton Orient (2-1), Notts County (1-0), Shrewsbury (1-0), Rushden (2-1) and Mansfield (4-1). Their trips to Lincolnshire however have proved unfruitful losing 2-0 at Boston and Scunthorpe. They have scored 24 on their travels conceeding 19 in the process. 

Wycombe currently lay 10th laying 3 points off 7th placed Northampton Town. Their home record has let them down with only 5 wins, the lowest out of anyone higher than 19th placed Notts County.

They are poised to sign ex-Premiership player, Rob Lee after the departure of Steve Guppy who looks set to commence his career in America.

Key Players: Nathan Tyson and Steve Claridge

Earlier this season City lost 1-0 down at Wycombe thanks to a last minute goal from Guppy. City had controlled the game and should have gone ahead on no less than 7 different occassions but finishing let the Imps down.

The last time the teams met at Sincil Bank sent the Imps down, the last day of the 1998-99 season, City needed to win and hope other results went their way, neither happened and the Imps returned to the then Division 3.

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