The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

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Pride of Lincolnshire?
Pride of Lincolnshire?

Preview: Lincoln v Grimsby

By: Alex Green
Date: 21/09/2007

WITH the chairman’s statement ringing in the ears of players and fans alike the Grimsby carnival roles into Lincoln for yet another local derby.

Home > 2007-2008 Season > Previews > Lincoln (a)


The Opposition

Overview

As a new season starts to increase speed its yet another glorious year for Lincoln to lose to someone or other in the play-offs for the ninety-second time in 92 seasons meaning this year they may have technically played every time in the football league during their usual failure. After losing out last year to Shrewsbury in the play offs Schofield has been given another season to improve the squad which had tried to change the style of football many of us had become accustomed to at Lincoln. The new tactics and speed with which Lincoln would attack ended up winning Schofield many accolades within the division and Lincoln were considered early favourites this time last year for promotion. Schofield replaced Keith Alexander after he too failed to get through the play-offs losing to our very own Mariners in the season previous if you can remember. Schofield himself was a late comer to the league managing local side Gainsborough Trinity before moving to Lincoln. Optimism isn't too high around the Bank with a mixed start to the campaign with six points from as many games and a minus 4 goal difference it isn't the start that John Schofield (left) was looking for. Performances have been a worry of late after early pace setters Darlington rolled City over last week with a comfortable 2-0 victory which could have been a lot more. The defeat was their second in a week after a late winner gave new boys Dagenham and Redbridge three points in the game at the Daggers home.

This Season
Its time for John Schofield to worry he has being given the dreaded curse that is the boards backing this week and after a mixed start the team will need to improve. The team didn't take on too many changes over the summer with only three new players becoming part of the Lincoln family. Gary Croft (left) moved to Sincil Bank as their second signing of the summer just after Jamie Hand signed from Chester followed by Steve Torpey from them lot up the road. Three transfers went the other way with the experience of Paul Mayo (Notts County), Paul Morgan (Bury) and Jeff Hughes (Crystal Palace) all leaving for pastures new. On loan at the moment Louis Dodds from Leicester (See Below) also gives a new younger feel to the Lincoln City of last year. The side have yet to gel and performances have been promising at best with many Lincoln fans suggesting the play-offs may not be reachable this year, which will have most Imps wondering what to do during late May.

Key Player
Louis Dodds the 20-year-old have signed a season long loan from Leicester and has already impressed at Lincoln with three goals from six appearances the youngster has started to turn head back at Leicester. Dodds won Leicester’s academy player of the year in 2006 after scoring 65 goals in 3 seasons. Louis has also been recognised internationally winning an England U18 Cap last year. For a young player Dodd’s has already done some travelling not only between Leicester and Lincoln but also playing at Northwich Victoria and Rochdale at the young age of 20. Expect the fast forward to give at least a little trouble to our backline and Barnes between the sticks.

Recent Form

TownLincoln
DStockport(h)1-1
LAccrington(a)1-4
WHuddersfield (JPT)(h)4-1
LShrewsbury(a)1-2
DMacclesfield(h)1-1
Currently 21st in League Two.
LDarlington(a)0-2
LBradford(h)1-2
LDag & Red (CC)(a)0-1
LAccrington(h)0-2
WMansfield(a)3-1
Currently 17th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownLincoln
Paul Bolland3
Ciaran Toner2
Dodds3
N'Guessan2

Team News

TownLincoln

  • Ryan Bennett (achilles) and Andy Taylor (ankle) are both doubts and await late fitness tests
  • Lincoln have no known injury worries.
  • Probable Teams

    TownLincoln
    G1Barnes
    D14Mulligan
    D5Fenton
    D5Bennett
    D3Newey
    D7Till
    M8Bolland
    M11Boshell
    M10Toner
    F20Taylor
    F12Rankin
    G1Marriott
    D12Amoo
    D6Brown
    D4Moses
    D3Croft
    M7Frecklington
    M17N'Guessan
    M26Hand
    F9Stallard
    F8Forrester
    F19Dodds

    Subs

    TownLincoln
    13Montgomery
    5Bennett
    4Hunt
    19Jones
    9North
    20Warlow
    11Kerr
    18Ryan
    13Duffy
    10Torpey

    Head to Head

    Town's rivalry with Lincoln goes back further than with any other club and for a large part of the 19th century and early 20th century Town were something of a bogey side for City. In the 21st century Lincoln have shaded it, but Town still have an overall good record against the Imps.

    P 102 W 45 D 27 L 30 F 191 A 146

    Lincoln Head-to-Head (19th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 0-0 Lincoln (Saturday 28th April 2007)

    A boring nil nil draw at the end of last season was the last meeting between the two teams.

     Report

    Prediction

    For a game so early in the season its hard to believe both managers are under so much pressure to get the points, expect the usual tight game with not much to shout about.

    Lincoln 0-1 Grimsby

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Sincil Bank (left).

    Pubs

    Click on the link for pubs close to Sincil Bank.

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