Grimsby v Lincoln Preview

The Opposition

The Imps were founded in 1891 and in recent seasons have been seen as ‘the bridesmaid but never the bride’ after several play-off heartbreaks. The run began when in 2003 under Keith Alexander the team made up of lower league ‘rejects’ and ex-non league players unbelievably managed to reach the play-off final only to be beaten by Bournemouth. The following season they again confounded the critics by reaching the play-offs but were beaten in a bruising semi-final by Huddersfield Town. In the 2004/5 season Lincoln reached the final but were beaten by a determined Southend side, which narrowly missed out on automatic promotion on the final day. The Imps fans were now thinking that this run would never end, and that their luck had been dreadful. Change didn’t come the next season when Grimsby came to Sincil Bank and nicked a 1-0 win in the semi-final first leg, and won the second leg 2-1 to send the Imps home empty handed again. Surely this run would end when they reached the semis again the following season, and only Bristol Rovers stood between them and Wembley. It wasn’t to be, and an epic two-legged affair finished 7-4 on aggregate to the Bristol side, who went on to beat Shrewsbury in the final. Last season the management pair were replaced by Peter Jackson, the man who took Huddersfield to League One at the expense of the Imps, he steadied the ship and led Lincoln to a 15th placed finish, just one place above the Mariners. This season has been indifferent, with Lincoln sat in 12th place, and 10 points from that all important 7th spot.

In the summer of 2008 Lincoln brought in some ‘risky’ but talented players in Rob Burch, Frank Sinclair, Anthony Elding and David Graham. Graham lasted only a few games and was released, but Burch and veteran right-back Sinclair have shored up the shaky defence of last season. French winger Dany N’Guessan has been a revelation since his move from Rangers in 2007, his and Scott Kerr’s midfield drive has given the Imps fresh impetus from midfield. Elsewhere, Anthony Eldings arrival on loan from Crewe seems justified and he scored his first goals in the win at Dagenham in midweek. Elding has struggled for form after big money moves to Leeds and Crewe following a purple patch at Stockport, and will be a threat on Saturday.

Midfielder and Captain Scott Kerr has played over 130 games for the Imps since he was signed from Scarborough in 2005. His drive and energy in midfield has given Lincoln something many clubs simply don’t have, and his Gerrard-esque style has won him many fans. He formed a solid partnership Lee Frecklington (now Peterborough United) and it is well known that he chose to sign for Lincoln over the Mariners four years ago. He has played in all but 1 of Lincoln’s league games this season and it seems that the match on Saturday will very much be won and lost in midfield.

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Head to Head

Despite a good overall record against Dale Grimsby have lost 7 out of 10 against them.

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Lincoln Head-to-Head (15th on The Opposition Ladder)

Last Meeting

Lincoln 1 Grimsby 1 (Sat 30th Aug 2008)

Town were unlucky not to win the corresponding game at Lincoln back in August,

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