By Nathan Jackson
April 1 2011

Lincoln City make their longest away trip of the season in the search of a win that would virtually guarantee survival. However, the Imps travel to one of the division's promotion chasers, a situation City have been familiar with in recent weeks and a situation we have struggled to get to grips with.

It's been the story of our season that we've gotten so close to what we've been aiming to achieve but not quite getting there. At the beginning of the season we could have moved sixth with a win at Accrington, a 3-0 defeat later would turn out to be the last time that the Imps would be managed away from home by Chris Sutton. There was also the two month spell between November 20th and January 22nd when we were stuck on 19 points and looked doomed, and now we're stuck on 46 points.

City's fans can't relax at the moment as with a difficult run coming up it isn't beyond the realms of possibility that all the teams below us could catch and overtake us, although thankfully two of the bottom three are playing each other this weekend, meaning the pressure isn't on as much for this game, although a win for Barnet and a defeat for the Imps would make the final month of the season very nervy.

In the remaining weeks of the season we are only facing two teams who aren't currently fighting for a Playoff place, and one of those isn't until the final day of the season.

So where better to start the final full month of matches than the longest trip of the season, Torquay United. To go down to Torquay to watch your relegation-battling team is a sign of the true hardcore (or crazy) fans, then again, Torquay make lengthy trips virtually every other week, so we can't complain about a singular six hour trip.

A win for Imps virtually guarantees safety for the Imps as even in the worst case scenario, we'll be eleven points ahead of the drop zone with six games to play, whereas the best case scenario is a fourteen point gap, forcing both of the bottom two to win at least five of their remaining six for City to have a chance of going down. The Imps could climb as high as 15th with a victory.

The hosts could crazily go from 8th to 4th with a win due to the packed nature of the Playoff places. There is a good chance that none of the Playoff teams could be confirmed until the final whistle of the final day.

The Imps are playing as such bare-bones that Drewe Broughton has been recalled from his loan spell at AFC Wimbledon. He could go straight into the starting line up as the Imps have struggled to even create chances without Facey and Grimes, although the latter could feature for the first time since the defeat at Stevenage.

Elsewhere, Danny Hone is expected to miss the match after being injured in the game at Port Vale, and unfortunately that coincides with the return of Patrick Kanyuka from suspension. The big defender was the main reason City were defeated 6-0 by Rotherham, being personally responsible for all four goals conceded whilst he was on the pitch....and the fifth was from the penalty he gave away.

It's virtually impossible to pick a starting line up due to all the injuries, although Tom Kilbey is likely to get another chance to earn a new contract following the news that Portsmouth won't renew his contract.

Torquay United have successfully maintained their general form from the end of last season and at one time looked like walking away with the division, although that was right at the beginning of the season.

They started the season with five wins in the first six games in all competitions, the only defeat coming to Championship side Reading. The form did tail off for a while after that, failing to win in the League between August 28th and October 30th, many feeling this run would potentially see them join the relegation battle, similar to York City in 2003/4. However, when the form returned it returned with a bang.

Three wins in a row kicked off a run of seven games unbeaten, five of those wins and since then, despite not being in overly impressive form, they have been able to put together vital wins against those around them at the top, meaning that they are staying in the race. Wins over Stevenage, Shrewsbury and Bury have seen them stick in that group with a hope of the Playoffs.

The Gulls have not lost in their last five games, scoring 14 goals in that time and conceding seven.

Their run in sees home games against Lincoln, Port Vale, Wycombe and Chesterfield, with trips ot Bradford, Burton and Rotherham. All of those teams have something to play for and playing the teams around them could make or break their season.

The Gulls are managed by Paul Buckle, a young and upcoming manager who masterminded a free-falling Torquay side's return to the Football League just under twenty-four months ago, winning promotion at the second attempt in a row in the Playoffs. The first year in the Football League was a struggle but now you wouldn't bet against them making a third Playoff appearance in four years.

Torquay's side isn't one that is brimming with stars, Elliott Benyon remains as their top scorer, that despite him leaving for Swindon in January. Chris Zebrowski is on 11 for the season and there are several others who will probably reach ten before the season's end. Torquay also share the goals around with sixteen different players hitting the net for the Gulls, one of the highest in the division.

Mustapha Carayol, Lee Thorpe, Martin Gritton, David Graham, Simon Rayner, Tyrone Thompson, Marcus Richardson and Richard Kell have all been at both clubs since the turn of the millennium, however, none have arguably been consistent performers for both sides.

RECENT MATCH REPORTS

2010/11

Lincoln City 0 Torquay United 2

2009/10

Lincoln City 0 Torquay United 0

Torquay United 2 Lincoln City 3

Imps make the long trip south to Torquay

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 01/04/2011 18:10

theimps.ka
01/04/2011 18:10

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