The Imps take on 18th placed Morecambe today with our big new winter window signing, the wee but potent Lion from Millwall. Yes Ali Fuseini our midfield magician is set to begin some sorcerous scheming. Abracadabra, Ali the Assister and Arabian knight is set to play Fariek the magician or perhaps Bez of 'Size of an Elephant' fame for those old enough to remember the Arabian Knights cartoon on the Banana Splits show (CLICK ME)
Forget those Sincil Sighs this gifted lad will banish evil Sultan Bakaar from the Bank once and for all. Yes despite giant hero Rob Bradley (we will let you choose a hero fit enough to clean the father of Lincoln City's boots - something the 12th man chairman should be mindful of) severing ties Ali can conjure smiles in the aisles to fill those empty seats with a magic that could well put sufficient magic carpet under our feet at just the right time. Not Jacko'sthree tiles for a win but the uplift of a pucker magic carpet laid in person by Delboy and Grimes and maybe evn an O'Keefe - for sure Guv, for Sure.
But back to the preview though........
O’Keefe and Ali together will have too much for Drummond and Brown although Hone and Watts will have a tough time with top scorer Jevons and Huddersfield hot shot James Spencer. The 18 year old will have a fitness test but having already served a three match suspension in January, he is a handful with Homespun Hone likely to be the recipient as usual.
The Imps need to ensure the draw we have been waiting for, does not come this Sincil Super Saturday, for although the Shrimps are winless in five the last three have been one all draws (Accy, Robins & Shots). This weeks form of the foe is here.
The Teams & Schemes
Talk of Shrewsbury has been banished from the Bank with Ali’s news a big but expected lift. There are doubts over Hunt who will have a fitness test with Kelly dropping to right back and Howell returning to the right of midfield to give us some stability down the flank. We were ripped to shreds on Tuesday down both sides with young Hoyte learning some tough lessons whilst an early injury to Hunt hampered our loan star. Worst case scenario Clapham may replace Hunt on the left, Kelly then moved across with Hoyte retaining his place.
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Kelly Hone Watts Hunt
Howell O’Keefe Fuseini McCallum
Grimes Facey
Morecambe 4-4-2
Roche
Holdsworth Parrish Charnock Capaldi
Hurst Brown Drummond Wilson
Spencer Jevons
The Head - to - Head
We have not played that many times as Morecambe arerelative newbies compared to our 103 seasons of League Football. Of the 5 games played at the Bank ww won the first two drew the second and tasted defeat at home for the first time 1-3 last season.
For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here remember our next opponents head to head is always available via the LCM menu down the left.
| Recent encounters between the teams: | |||||
| 2010/2011 | Sat 13 Nov | Morecambe | 1 - 2 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2009/2010 | Mon 05 Apr | Lincoln City | 1-3 | Morecambe | LGE2 |
| 2009/2010 | Sat 31 Oct | Morecambe | 3 - 1 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2008/2009 | Tue 10 Feb | Morecambe | 1 - 1 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 27 Sep | Lincoln City | 1 - 1 | Morecambe | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 26 Apr | Morecambe | 1 - 2 | Lincoln City | LGE2 |
| 2007/2008 | Sat 06 Oct | Lincoln City | 1 - 1 | Morecambe | LGE2 |
Recent respective form guides
Its time to change the home form and attract the missing faithful that Stevo the Sincil Saviour was going on about in midweek. Its been bleek though of mighty Pearly King with one win and 5 defeats, from the last six. Although we have scored for fun on the road 7 for at home cannot compete with 18 at the other end.
Line in the sand - It ends now, hopefully anyway, as Morecambe come to us
with two wins, two draws, and two defeats in their last 6 with 8 goals for and 7 against.
For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here
| Current form guides: | P | W | D | L | F | A | P |
| Lincoln City | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 15 |
| Morecambe | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
FootyMad's prediction ...
Neil: Ali's arrival excites me as this is a midfielder and a half despite his size. Whether he debuts today or not the Imps will have too much for the Shrimps running out 2-0 winners.
Vic Erzantarz: 2-1 to the Imps - pass the bourbons and the custarrd creams why don't you its playoff form.
Ivan Impgrass. The Imps and the Shrimps sounds like a game that could come up short with the visitors nicking their fourth point on the trot 1-1.
| Sequence statistics: | |
| Lincoln City | 10 games since last home draw. Not drawn a match in their last 10 . |
| Morecambe | Not won in previous 3 away matches. Drawn each of the last 3 games. No win in the 5 most recent games. |