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Pride of Grimsby
Pride of Grimsby

Lincoln Preview

By: Richard Lord
Date: 27/12/2005

IT'S the big local derby on Wednesday night when Lincoln City come to Blundell Park. Grimsby will be keen to avenge last season's 4-2 home defeat, while The Imps will look to extend their decent form.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Lincoln (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Keith Alexander's side have only lost once in their last eight league outings, and they will certainly be hoping for a play-off spot come the end of the season. Their indifferent start to the campaign appears to have been left behind and they've quickly established themselves as a difficult team to beat. Their last two away games have included a 1-1 draw at Northampton and a 1-0 victory at Oxford.

Their Squad
In goal is the reliable Alan Marriott, who has been at the club since joining them in 1999. Lincoln's defence includes Gareth Mcauley (at 6'3") and former Scunthorpe centre back Jamie Mccombe (6'5"). One time Town target Scott Kerr is in the centre of midfield alongside Dean Keates, who has played for Walsall and Hull. Nat Brown joined Lincoln from Huddersfield in the summer, and striker Derek Asamoah (left) is often deployed on the right as an attacking midfielder.

Key Player
Former Walsall striker Gary Birch has bagged eight goals this season and will need close attention from Whittle and Jones. However, with just one goal in his last 13 outings, Birmingham-born Birch will reckon he is long overdue a goal or two. One of the main threats Lincoln will pose is their ability to interchange their strikers with the attacking midfielders.

Recent Form

TownLincoln
WBury(a)2-1
LBristol R(h)0-1
WRochdale(h)4-1
WOxford(a)3-2
LWycombe(a)1-3
Currently 2nd in League Two.
DBoston(h)0-0
WOxford(a)1-0
WChester(h)3-1
DMacclesfield(h)2-2
DNorthampton(a)1-1
Currently 14th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownLincoln
Gary Jones7
Michael Reddy6
Gary Cohen6
Gary Birch8
Nat Brown7
Marvin Robinson5

Team News

TownLincoln

  • Apart from the long-term absence of John Mcdermott, Grimsby have no fresh injury worries ahead of the game. It's likely that Russell Slade will want to stick with the same side that won at Bury on Boxing Day.
  • Dean Keates will serve the third of his three-match ban for his sending off against Chester. Meanwhile Scott Kerr will return to the side after he missed the Boxing Day draw with Boston through suspension.

  • Defender Paul Morgan could make the starting eleven after suffering from the ankle injury that's forced him to miss the last two games. Simon Yeo is not eligible to play for the Imps until the New Year.
  • Probable Teams

    TownLincoln
    1Steve Mildenhall
    20Gary Croft
    3Tom Newey
    12Rob Jones
    6Justin Whittle
    15Gary Cohen
    18Ciaran Toner
    8Paul Bolland
    11Andy Parkinson
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    1Alan Marriott
    4Gareth McAuley
    6Jamie McCombe
    5Paul Morgan
    3Paul Mayo
    17Colin Cryan
    7Derek Asamoah
    11Scott Kerr
    23Nat Brown
    8Gary Birch
    28Richard Logan

    Subs

    TownLincoln
    4Simon Ramsden
    10Martin Gritton
    7JPK Kalala
    25Glen Downey
    30Nick Heggarty
    2Lee Beevers
    21Luke Foster
    19Lee Frecklington
    26Marvin Robinson
    18Oliver Ryan

    Head to Head

    The last time Grimsby beat Lincoln in the league was back in 1990 when the sides met in the old Division 4. A Dave Gilbert penalty was all that separated the two teams. Town have enjoyed 37 wins over their rivals down the years, suffering 26 defeats and recording 23 draws. Grimsby first met Lincoln in 1885, with the home side winning the FA Cup third round encounter. It was at the seventh attempt when the Imps finally beat the Mariners for the first time - a 4-2 win at Blundell Park.

    P 86 W 37 D 23 L 26 F 162 A 128

    Lincoln Head-to-Head (16th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    A hat-trick from Simon Yeo helped Lincoln City to an impressive 4-2 victory. The visitors held a 2-0 lead at half time, but goals from Thomas Pinault and Stacy Coldicott drew the sides level in the second half. However, Yeo smashed in his third and current Mariner Ciaran Toner rounded things off, capitalising on a John McDermott error.

    Grimsby Team: Williams, Ramsden, Forbes, Rob Jones, McDermott, Fleming, Coldicott, Young (Pinault 45), Parkinson, Reddy, Gritton
    Subs (not used): Crane, Downey, Hockless, North

    Lincoln Team: Marriott, McCombe, Morgan, McAuley, Bloomer, Sandwith, Toner, Butcher, Yeo (Gain 73), Westcarr, Taylor-Fletcher
    Subs: (not used) Hanlon, Blackwood, Hobbs, Richardson

    Attendance: 7,091    Report

    Prediction

    Grimsby are due a win over their Lincolnshire rivals.

    1-0 to the Mariners

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Bury1-02-11
    Bristol R1-00-10
    Rochdale3-24-11
    Oxford1-13-20
    Wycombe1-21-31
    Macclesfield1-13-10
    Bristol R2-01-21
    Northampton1-10-01
    Morecambe1-01-10
    Cheltenham1-14-00
    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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