|
The Match |
| After two defeats over Easter, one down
to the performance and the other down to luck, we are getting close to
the must win stage of the season and we will need the three points to
keep in touch with teams just above the relegation zone. |
|
The Imps |
|
Promotion chasing Lincoln were rocked this week when club captain Paul
Morgan put in a transfer request despite having one year left on his
contract. Morgan, who has been at the club since 2001, has cited personal
issues for making the request and missed Monday's 1-1 draw at Darlington.
This draw has left The Imps in fifth place with 69 points
from 42 games but it looks like they will have to settle for a play off
place for the fifth successive season. Lincoln have been the nearly men of
League Two during this time, having lost in the semi-finals and final twice.
Lincoln do not have one of the best home records for a team
pushing for a play off place and they have lost six out of their 21 games at
home so far. They are still ranked 7th overall with eleven wins and 4 draws
although they do have a good defensive record with only nine conceded at Sincil Bank.
The Imps are on a run of four games without a win with the
last two matches ending up in draws against Stockport and Darlington after
two successive defeats at the hands of Swindon and Rochdale. The last win
was at home to Barnet in the middle of March when a second half goal
separated the two sides but this result also ended a run of four games
without a win. Despite only recording one win out of the last nine games,
Lincoln have maintained at least a play off place since the third game of
the season.
Top goal scorer for Lincoln is the experienced Jamie
Forrester with seventeen goals so far this season but he has gone five games
without scoring. Forrester joined the club from Bristol Rovers twelve months
ago initially on loan but made the move a permanent one following his free
transfer at the start of this season.
The man in charge of the Imps is John Schofield and he
replaced former Posh manager Keith Alexandra during the summer. Schofield holds
the title of head coach and works along side John Deehan who is Director of
Football at Sincil Bank. Schofield was previously first team coach and was
promoted at the same time when Deehan swapped positions to Lincoln from
Northampton. |
|
Past Encounters |
 |
|
Last 5 Meetings |
| Nov 06: Wrexham 1
Lincoln 1 |
| Jan 06: Wrexham 1
Lincoln 1 |
| Sep 05: Lincoln 2
Wrexham 0 |
| Mar 03: Lincoln 1
Wrexham 1 |
| Oct 02: Wrexham 0
Lincoln 2 |
The
2-1 win over Lincoln last November was our first win over the Imps since
1999 and ended a run of five games without a win.
Mark Jones and Chris Llewellyn had given us a half time lead
and we managed to hang on for three points despite Mark Stallard scoring
midway through the second half.
Last season, the Imps
collected four points out of the two games played. The first
game at Sincil Bank resulted in a comfortable 2-0 victory for the home side
and Wrexham had to rely on a injury time goal from Mark Jones to rescue a
point after Simon Yeo had given Lincoln a second half lead.
Prior to this, the club's last met in Wrexham's promotion season but Lincoln
again had the upper hand with a 2-0 win at the Racecourse and a 1-1 draw at
Sincil bank with Andy Morrell equalising for Wrexham.
Our last victory at Sincil Bank in the league was twenty
years ago in the 1987/88 season although we did win 2-1 at Lincoln in the
Football League Trophy back in 1999. The
clubs have met on 79 occasions in the league with Lincoln winning 31 games,
Wrexham 25 and there have been 23 draws. |
|
League Form Guide |
|
Team |
Last 5 Games |
League |
Form |
Last Win |
|
Wrexham |
LWDLL |
23rd |
20th |
4 games |
|
Lincoln |
WDDLL |
5th |
22nd |
5 games |
|
Team News |
|
Wrexham Team News:
Wrexham welcome back Danny Williams and Neil Roberts to the squad that
travels to Lincoln after they were ruled out of both Eatser games due to
suspension and a calf injury respectively. Robbie Garrett will face a late
fitness check after being hit with a virus and Mark Jones is rated extremely
doubtful after suffering a reoccurrence of his groin strain that forced him
out of the match against Notts County but Ryan Valentine and Matty Done are
expected to shake of knocks collected in the same game. Michael Ingham,
Gareth Evans, Matt Crowell and Juan Ugarte are all ruled out injured but for
once no one is suspended.
Lincoln Team News: Lincoln are without defender Nat Brown who is out
suspended along with fellow defender Adie Moses who is a doubt with an ankle
injury. Leon Middleton is definitely out for The Imps with a medial ligament
injury. |
|
Other Games |
|
League 2
Fixtures:
Accrington
Stanley v Grimsby
Barnet v Bristol Rovers
Bury v Swindon
Hereford v Boston United
Lincoln City v Wrexham
Macclesfield v Stockport
Mansfield v Rochdale
Milton Keynes Dons v Darlington
Notts County v Walsall
Torquay v Peterborough
Wycombe v Hartlepool
Chester v Shrewsbury (Sunday)
|
|
Latest Standings |
Left |
GD |
Pts |
|
19 |
Bury |
4 |
-12 |
45 |
|
20 |
Accrington |
4 |
-12 |
44 |
|
21 |
Macclesfield |
5 |
-17 |
44 |
|
22 |
Boston |
4 |
-25 |
42 |
|
23 |
Wrexham |
5 |
-28 |
39 |
|
24 |
Torquay |
4 |
-26 |
32 |
|
Torquay will be relegated this weekend if they fail to
beat Peterborough or if Boston win and Macclesfield and Accrington draw.
Boston travel to mid table Hereford who are dropping down
the league table to 17th and also lie bottom of the form table.
Fourth bottom Macclesfield face a local derby at home to
promotion chasing Stockport although the Hatters have started to stutter in
recent weeks.
Accrington Stanley entertain once relegation threatened
Grimsby and Bury face a difficult task when they play third placed Swindon
who probably only require a couple of wins to secure automatic promotion.
|
|
|
Venue Guide |
|
Address:
Sincil Bank Stadium, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 8LD.
Telephone Number:
01522 880011
Fax Number:
01522 880020 |
|
How to get there? |
| By Car: From Wrexham take the
A483, A55, M53 and M56 towards Manchester. Take left hand lanes at
junction 3 of the M56 and follow this road onto the M60 heading towards
Stockport. Leave the M60 at junction 24 taking the third exit at the
roundabout for the A57(and the M67) towards Sheffield. Back on the A57,
upon reaching the
traffic lights with the A628 go forward to join the A628 and at the
roundabout with the A616 take the third exit to join the A616, following
this road until you join the M1 Southbound - signposted the South,
London, Nottingham. Exit the M1 at junction 31 and then follow
the A57 towards Worksop until you reach the roundabout with the A1 where you take the
second exit onto the A1 for approximately 5 miles. When you reach the
roundabout with the A57 take the second exit to rejoin the A57 which takes you into Lincoln although you will require 25p for
the Dunham Toll Bridge! Upon reaching the roundabout
with the A46 turn right onto the A46 and go straight on at the next
roundabout before turning left at the next onto the B1190 from where you will
now see signs
for the stadium. After going through a level crossing and at the T-junction
after 2 miles turn left onto the A1434 Newark Road and stay on this road
following signs for Lincoln and the city centre. At the roundabout (make
sure you are in the left hand lane) take the first exit into the B1262 High
Street and after about half a mile, get into the right-hand lane and go
straight over the traffic lights. About 100 metres further on, turn right
into Scorer Street, cross the Sincil Drain, then fourth right into Cross Street
and the ground is straight ahead. Distance = 137 miles; Time = 3
hours. Watch out for the speed cameras located on all the A Roads
from Stockport to Lincoln. By
Train:
Nearest Train Station is Lincoln. Turn left out of the station and left
again onto the High Street. Walk down this road taking the seventh road
on your right into Scorer Street and then the fourth right into Cross
Street and the ground will now be ahead of you. In total it is a 15 minute walk or
you can catch a taxi at a cost of £3. Click here for the Rail
Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950. |
|
When you are there |
| Car Parking: The
only parking at the ground is behind the Stacey West Stand costing £3.00
but you must arrive early for a space. The majority of supporters park
on the side streets around the ground or alternatively you can follow
signs for Away Coaches and this takes you onto the A158 South Park
Avenue where you will find plenty of street parking and on South Common.
The other option is to use the city centre car parks. Beer and Grub:
The Centre Spot Social Club is located in the rear of the Mundy South
Bank Stand and costs £1.00 to centre and welcomes visiting supporters.
There are two bars, SKY TV and the hot pork and stuffing rolls come
highly recommended. For the other pubs you have to look no further than
the High Street. The Golden Eagle is located here and is five minutes
away from the ground. It is the home of the travel association and has a
good atmosphere, which is helped with cheap ale. The Ritzy on the High
Street is a typical Weatherspoons pub and The Blandings is only ten
minutes away. Also recommended are the George & Dragon where the
atmosphere is good. The usual chippies, bakeries and takeaways are found
in the city centre but your best bet is to use one of the pubs plus the
hot pork and stuffing rolls from the Social Club. Inside the ground the
food is of high quality with a variety of food on offer including pies,
burgers and bacon rolls. Drinks are also good as well.
Cash Machines: Usual banks on the High Street
and in the City Centre. |
|
How much to get in? |
|
The
Co-Operative Community Stand: Adults £15, Concessions, Juniors £5.
Junior tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office.
|
|
Disabled Facilities |
| There are 23 spaces available in the
Mundy South park stand behind one goal with the disabled admitted for
free and the helper paying £6.00. Car parking is also available but
spaces must be booked at least two days before the game on 01522 880011.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire also provide audio commentary for the blind. |
|
Weather Forecast |
|
Sunny with temperatures reaching 17 degrees Celsius and a 2
mph north easterly wind. |
|
