A win at in-form Hereford United and another 2 home hauls over Shrewsbury Town and Morecambe this week are on the cards for Facey’s Fab-5-in 5 Imps. Every year a side comes from nowhere to nick a playoff place, ask Gannon’s Stockport County squad or maybe even the Southend side that played under, of all people Steve Tilson. Yes indeed you eye rubbing Imps Tilson has turned around a sides fortunes before and even – steady now you older ones – taken them to a Cup final in one troublesome season, did it twice in succession to boot..
Flight of fancy I hear the pessimists chant in unison, perhaps so, but the Imps are reborn and to our reckoning playoff bound under Tilson’s tutelage. We have had our playoff heartbreaks yet now you feel we Imps can enjoy the ride after such a dark age with two people at the helm who realise that to prioritise matters on the pitch is what counts. The pragmatic Imp in me suggests starting with.... and now we are 9 points away from danger... but let us spoil ourselves, pour a shot of that dusty single Malt and consider the road ahead.
Though still 15th on 34 points Lincoln City and our loan stars are one place and one point behind Northampton; still with a game in hand. Unlucky 13th Stevenage on 34 points and Torquay on 36 points, have also played the same number as us but those 11th and above make interesting reading.
Cheltenham, our victims last week sit in 11th just 5 points from us having played three games more, Southend are also on 39 points having played two games more. Ninth placed Oxford have played three more than the Imps but crucially sit two wins away and will have to come to Sincil Bank on Tuesday 1st March in a huge 6-pointer.
Crewe in 8th have seven points on us yet with two games in hand a couple of wins would see us on the shoulders of a side that will be there or there abouts at seasons end. They will also affect a few teams destinies, hosting our good selves on April 16th.
Dreams perhaps but win all three games in hand over 7th placed Gillingham and we could well have more than 46 matches to play in a marathon of a season that just gets better and better.
Pos Team P GD PTS
3 Rotherham 28 16 47
4 Shrewsbury 29 14 45
5 Port Vale 28 7 44
6 Bury 26 15 43
7 Gillingham 29 4 42
8 Crewe 28 12 41
9 Oxford Utd 29 0 40
10 Southend 28 3 39
11 Cheltenham 29 -1 39
12 Torquay 26 7 36
13 Stevenage 26 9 35
14 Northampton 27 -3 35
15 Lincoln City 26 -10 34