Ahead of Saturday’s game against Accrington Stanley, we take a look at the current form of both sides, Scotimp’s views from the Season Preview and past meetings between the two sides.
Accrington Stanley: Last Six Results (League Two):
Accrington Stanley 1-0 Notts County
Colchester United 0-1 Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley 1-1 Exeter City
Accrington Stanley 2-0 Yeovil Town
Wycombe Wanderers 0-4 Accrington Stanley
Newport County 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Remaining Fixture (League Two):
Swindon Town (a)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 1,119 (v Wycombe Wanderers)
Highest: 3,176 (v Yeovil Town)
Total: 40,760 (22 games)
Average: 1,853
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Billy Kee (25)
2: Kayden Jackson (15)
3: Sean McConville (12)
4: Jordan Clark (7)
5: Mark Hughes (4)
Scotimp’s Views From the Season Preview Part One | Part Two
Last season was a strange one for Accrington Stanley. Despite finishing in the bottom half of League Two, they were only 5 points short of the playoffs in a tightly-packed table. A great run of 15 games unbeaten between February and April carried them from a relegation battle to a bid for promotion, and fans might have been forgiven for looking forward to 2017-18. However, there have been unexpected changes over the summer. The biggest loss is new Northern Ireland international Shay McCartan to Bradford, while three midfielders departed for Bangor City, of all clubs. Stanley stalwarts Terry Gornell and Romuald Boco have also gone, leaving manager John Coleman to carry out a major rebuild of his playing staff. On the positive side, the influential Sean McConville remains, and new signing Mekhi Leacock-McLeod from Billericay looks interesting. Their pre-season campaign may not have done them any favours with just five fixtures, four of which were against the significantly superior opposition. The main handicap for many clubs in southern Lancashire will always be the challenge of persuading locals not to travel to Manchester for their football, and the generation of revenue is far more difficult in as small a catchment area as Accrington. The club’s target of 1,000 season tickets has not been achieved, finishing at little over 800. Stanley had the lowest average attendance in the Football League last season, and attracting quality players with a severely limited budget means the experts habitually predict a season of struggle at the Wham Stadium. The squad does appear limited, but Coleman is a clever manager who repeatedly inspires Stanley to punch above their weight.
Prediction: Lower mid-table.
Lincoln City: Last Six Results (League Two):
Lincoln City 3-2 Exeter City
Carlisle United 0-1 Lincoln City
Port Vale 1-0 Lincoln City
Lincoln City 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers
Lincoln City 2-1 Colchester United
Coventry City 2-4 Lincoln City
Remaining Fixture (League Two):
Yeovil Town (h)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 7,320 (v Barnet)
Highest: 9,785 (v Exeter City)
Total: 191,977 (22 games)
Average: 8,726
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Matt Green (13)
2: Ollie Palmer (8)
3: Matt Rhead (8)
4: Harry Anderson (6)
5: Michael Bostwick (6)
Scotimp’s Views From the Season Preview Part One | Part Two
Lincoln City’s promotion to the Football League last season was as unexpected as it was breathtaking. Their run to the FA Cup quarter-final astonished and enthralled football supporters all over the world, and that is one reason why they are expected to do well this season. Wins over Oldham, Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley suggest that City will have little trouble with the likes of Crawley and Newport, and they have a far stronger squad this season. The methodical and analytical approach of Danny Cowley and his management team should deliver results regardless of which tier they are in; and whilst promotion to League One at the first attempt seems a tall order, they have plenty of momentum. Cowley has made some interesting signings during the close season, with Peterborough’s Player of the Season Michael Bostwick the headline-maker. Off the field, their policy of attracting sustainable investment has been enhanced through the advent of a couple of new directors. With a bespoke training ground scheduled to open in December and a new 15,000-seat stadium very much on the horizon, developments in infrastructure are set to keep pace with progress onfield. The people of Lincoln are certainly convinced: they have snapped up almost 6,000 season tickets over the summer, a response not seen since their Second Division days in the mid-1950s. City are almost guaranteed an average crowd of between 7,000 and 8,000, even if consolidation is the outcome next May. But the Cowleys have the opportunity they have worked for ten years to secure – to test their skills in the Football League – and they are unlikely to settle for anything less than a promotion challenge.
Prediction: Automatic promotion.
Last 8 Meetings:
12/12/08: Lincoln City 5-1 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
4/4/09: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Lincoln City (League Two)
15/8/09: Accrington Stanley 1-0 Lincoln City (League Two)
16/2/10: Lincoln City 2-1 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
17/9/10: Accrington Stanley 3-0 Lincoln City (League Two)
5/3/11: Lincoln City 0-0 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
5/12/17: Lincoln City 3-2 Accrington Stanley (EFL Trophy)
16/12/17: Lincoln City 2-0 Accrington Stanley (League Two)
– @ASFCofficial (a): Form, Past Results & More:https://t.co/f3e9UgiraL#ASFC #ImpsAsOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) April 26, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/1669947289708176
