City’s visit to Cheltenham Town’s Whaddon Road is not as cut and dried as it seems with the favourites losing both their previous two home games 1-2, to Wycombe Wanderers and Accrington Stanley. On the face of it 9th host 24th, yet the Robins are far better away from home (3rd in L2) than they are in their own back yard. A strike force that has banged in 22 goals this season has saved their best for the travelling faithful with huge Jeff Goulding already on 9 goals and Wesley Thomas on 13 in all competitions.
Valiant old boy and right back Keith Lowe’s assist helped Goulding settle the game at Port Vale on Saturday to continue the great away form but we have a few positives this evening. Brian Smikle, leading with 6 assists is missing as is Sean Jeffers. Defensively Andy Gallinagh their in form centre back is out with a hernia and centre half Martin Riley is also unlikely to make the game On loan Eastham is likely to partner Elliott at the heart of the Robins defence. Yesterday’s form of the foe article also illustrates the dangers from all over the park HERE.
yet the Imps are more than capable of banging in the goals to win this with 10 goals in three games. Grimes and Facey will trouble the Eastham and Elliott, the Robins makeshift centre halves and McCallum and Jarrett will vex their fullbacks big time.
Expect a few goals in this one again then.
The teams & Schemes
The Robins Go 4-1-2-1-2
The Robins favour a diamond formation with the width coming from their galloping fullbacks Keith Lowe and Danny Andrew. Artus and Bird will pose big problems for Howells and O’Keefe you feel. Up front Goulding will provide the battering ram whilst Thomas has the pace to latch onto any scraps.
Brown
Lowe Eastman Elliott Andrew
Bird
Pack Low
Artus
Goulding Thomas
The Imps Go 4-4-2
With Carayol out with a hamstring and Anyons head injury now a hip problem, there will be just the one change this evening. Why change a winning side after all? Thus Facey will continue as Captain with Kerr back on the bench as the Imps return to a more conventional 4-4-2 this evening as opposed to the trio in the middle at Stockport.
24 Carson
16 Kelly 4 Watts 6 Hone 23 Hunt
17 Jarrett 14 O’Keefe 15 Howell 9 McCallum
29 Grimes 18 Facey
The Head-To-Head
Whaddon Road is not a happy hunting ground for the the Imps in all honesty with just 2 wins from the previous 8 the last of which being a narrow 1 - 0 win for the Robins in April. That was after a bad tempered affair that saw Torres clobbered early doors as the Imps fought hard for a 1-1 draw.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2009/2010 | Sat 03 Apr | Cheltenham T. | 1 - 0 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2009/2010 | Sat 14 Nov | Lincoln City | 1 - 1 | Cheltenham T. | LGE2 |
| 2005/2006 | Fri 18 Nov | Cheltenham T. | 4 - 1 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2005/2006 | Fri 07 Oct | Lincoln City | 0 - 1 | Cheltenham T. | LGE2 |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 26 Feb | Cheltenham T. | 1 - 0 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2004/2005 | Sat 11 Dec | Lincoln City | 0 - 0 | Cheltenham T. | LGE2 |
| 2003/2004 | Sat 06 Mar | Cheltenham T. | 3 - 2 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
Cheltenham Town 37 points in 25 games, have managed have won just two in their last six at home, losing three, scoring 8 and conceding 7. The Imps, 22 points in 22 games come into this on a high note as League 2's entertainers, 2 wins,2 draws and 2 defeats have seen 23 goals with 11 for and 12 against.
Cheltenham, Yates wants a fortress after 2 home defeats, as his 9th placed side chase a play-off berth, whilst the Imps in 24th will just be happy to be here next year.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Cheltenham T. | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Lincoln City | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 4 |
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Cheltenham T. | Been beaten in each of their previous 2 home matches. Failed to win in previous 2 home matches. |
| Lincoln City | Last drawn game 6 outings ago. |
LCM' Panelist's prediction ...
Neil - Another win for the Imps 2-1
Vic - three home defeats on the spin for the Robins 3-2 to the Imps.
Ivan Impgrass: We are due a draw and so are they first clean sheet for the Imps in years. 0-0