Return of the Mark

Well well well, who'd have thought it? Last weekend's win over Swansea means that the Imps could have a guaranteed playoff place after next weeks trip to Northampton. However, that requires a lot of ifs to happen and firstly, we must beat suprise promotion contenders, Macclesfield Town at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

There's no new injury worries again for the Imps however, Green will more than likely replace Asamoah in the attack. It's boring when there's no injuries because this section becomes increasingly small.

Most likely formation (Right to left)

Marriott

McAuley     Morgan        Futcher     McCombe     Sandwith

Butcher    Gain

Yeo      Green      Taylor-Fletcher.

Macclesfield ended last season on a few places above the relegation places and if it hadn't been for Brian Horton's intervention then chances are that they would be in the conference at the minute. However, the Horton effect kept them up and then this season, they have set the division alight with their football that currently sees them in 5th place,

Macclesfield set their stall out straight away with a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient on the opening day before home wins over Shrewsbury and Swansea putting the Silkmen top of the division which suprised everyone. However, "normal" service was resumed when they won 1 of their next 6 games. However, they picked up again but inconsistency was their major problems as they just couldn't string a decent run of unbeaten games together.

Macclesfield often shot themselves in the foot but a 5-0 win at Notts County started off a run of 8 wins in 9 propelling the Silkmen into the automatic promotion picture. Their last victory came with a home win over Leyton Orient which was the last in that run of 8 in 9. Since then they're drawn 2 and lost 2.

2004 was a great year for Macclesfield against the Imps as it gave them their first points against the Imps since 2000. Macclesfield entered the league in 1997 and since then, Lincoln are the only side to face them in every season. Macclesfield have only won 4 of the meetings between the two sides with the victory in December being their first since 2000.