Two troubled League Two teams, Stockport the hapless Hatters and Lincoln City the limp Imps; know that today is far more than some clichéd six pointer. Make no mistake fellow League Two artisans, this is the defining moment of our seasons, our very Football League future and perhaps even beyond; for these two sides are very much on the slide.
Both have a case for the defence that would have the average barrister opting for the relatively safe harbour of insanity, a slippery slope in itself for any bloke. Stockport's goal difference of minus thirty would amuse the Imps were we now not shipping goals at just as fast a rate as our foes this afternoon. But on the plus side, for we need optimism at our respective clubs nowadays, both teams are a triumph going forward suggesting an exciting edge of our seats at the ironically christened Edgeley Park affair.
So To The Teams & Schemes that will contest this battle of attrition on a pitch harvested by the oval game.
The Hatters Go 4-5-1
1 Glennon
17 Halls 6 Assoumani 26 Grieve 3 Williams
4 Turnbull 8 Tansey 15 Mainwaring
11 Demontagnac 12 Griffin
9 Elding
The Imps Go 4-4-2
30 Carson
2 Green 6 Hone 31 Hunt 16 Kelly
17 Jarrett 14 O'Keef 15 Howell 9 McCallum
29 Grimes 18 Facey
The head to head
It is unlikely given the Cup final nature of this one that history will play any part. Well so we would hope given the Imps have lost 29, drawn 13 and won only 9 of the 51 games.
The last game at Edgeley Park was more than three years ado, in December 2007, a game the Imps won 3-1in League Two.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2010/2011 | Sat 23 Oct | Lincoln City | 0 - 0 | Stockport Co. | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 15 Mar | Lincoln City | 0 - 1 | Stockport Co. | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Tue 04 Dec | Stockport Co. | 1 - 3 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2006/2007 | Sat 07 Apr | Lincoln City | 0 - 0 | Stockport Co. | LGE2 |
| 2006/2007 | Sat 04 Nov | Stockport Co. | 2 - 0 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2005/2006 | Sat 04 Feb | Stockport Co. | 2 - 3 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2005/2006 | Tue 27 Sep | Lincoln City | 2 - 0 | Stockport Co. | LGE2 |
The Form is woeful
County have a home record that gets you relgated - just 3 draws from the last six, scoring 8 and conceding 19. The Imps are better away from home over the last half dozen at least, even if one win and two draws might be clutching at straws. In that time City have hit 7 goals and conceded ten.
With the Imps bottom, but County only 5 points clear by virtue of 5 games more played, there is little between the sides this morning. Yet a win for either side would strike a psycological blow respectively and perhaps even set the tone for the rest of the relegation struggle. Stockport Co. are hovering perilously just above the relegation zone, with 24 points from 26 matches.
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Stockport Co. | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 4 |
| Lincoln City | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 1 |
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Stockport Co. | Failed to win in previous 8 home matches. Not won in the 5 most recent games. |
| Lincoln City | Not won in previous 2 away matches. An overall losing run of 4 games. No win in the 6 most recent games. |
The LCM Pundits prediction ...
Neil: Could go either with a high scoring game almost guarranteed. McCallum to settle it as our number 9 continues to stake his claim. Imps 1-0
Ivan Impgass a nil nil draw as both defenses defy the critics. 0-0
Vic Erzantarz A massive game for both sides, the Home crowd at Edgeley Park will be the difference in a tight game. Stockport to Edge it 3-2.