Lincoln next up at the Vic

By Albatross
September 17 2002

Derby Day and Flash's broken Fibula may have been uppermost in Poolie thoughts for the last few days - but now it's time to concentrate on the next match. Lincoln City visit the Vic tonight, and they're flying high. Albatross studies the form.

So far this season Lincoln have been one of the real surprise packages in Division 3. Before the kickoff they were one of the favourites for relegation - including one of my tips for a season of struggle! However Keith Alexander has managed to take a team that struggled last season and turn them into a side that currently sits in 4th place, just three points behind Pools. Even more impressive is that this has been done despite losing Lee Thorpe to Orient.

Operating on a budget that is to say the least limited, Alexander has been scouring the non-leagues for players and it seems to be paying off. One name that will be familiar amongst the Imps' ranks will be none other than Adie Mike, who is on a short-term contract. Knowing what he was like at Pools (ie useless) this didn't seem to bode well for Lincoln, but he has already scored twice this season. Other signings have included leading scorer Simon Yeo (former Hyde and Curzon Ashton), Dene Cropper (Sheffield Wednesday via Worksop) and former Doncaster and Stalybridge man Ben Futcher.

Yeo has been suspended recently,but should return against Pools. Ben Sedgemore and Paul Smith should also be fit for Lincoln after missing Saturday's draw with Orient. For a time on Saturday it looked as if tonight's game was going to be a top of the table clash, with Lincoln leading at Brisbane Road; but Thorpe scored against his former team-mates to level the game and leave them in 4th.

Lincoln seem to be doing better against the better teams in the division, with wins against Shrewsbury and Rochdale; they have lost away at Boston (their local derby) and at home to Carlisle in a bad-tempered match that saw four sendings off - three of them Cumbrians.

That however was their last league defeat, and since then they have won three and drawn one; home wins over Macclesfield and Scunthorpe consolidated by a 2-1 victory at Shrewsbury and the Orient result. Defender Ben Futcher has scored in both of the last two games, following a long throw from the right on each occasion; Pools will need to be aware of the danger from these set pieces.

For Pools of course the big question is who will replace Gordon Watson; and the favourite would seem to be Adam Boyd. While I would like to see him given his chance, there is always the possibility that CT will instead opt for the additional physical prescence of Kevin Henderson. Either way, there are unlikely to be any other changes from the starting eleven that beat Darlington so comprehensively.

This is likely to be a much trickier game for Pools than Saturday, and not just because of the absence of Flash. Lincoln are well organised and in a bit of form; and so I think that tonight will see a 1-1 draw, with Eifion Williams to add to his tally.