We take a look at the current form of both sides, Scotimp’s views from the Season Preview and more!
Ahead of today’s game against Crawley Town we take a look at the current form of both sides, Scotimp’s views from the Season Preview and more!
Crawley Town: Last Six Results (League Two):
Newport County 2-1 Crawley Town
Notts County 1-2 Crawley Town
Crawley Town 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Chesterfield 1-2 Crawley Town
Crawley Town 3-0 Grimsby Town
Luton Town 4-1 Crawley Town
Next Two Fixtures (League Two):
Forest Green Rovers (a)
Wycombe Wanderers (h)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 1,455 (v Newport County)
Highest: 3,494 (v Luton Town)
Total: 33,022 (16 games)
Average: 2,064
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Enzio Boldewijn (9)
2: Jimmy Smith (7)
3: Jordan Roberts (6)
4: Karlan Ahearne-Grant (3)
5: Josh Payne (2)
Scotimp’s Views From the Season Preview – Part One | Part Two:
Crawley Town found themselves involved in the mix at the foot of League Two towards the end of last season despite occupying a play-off spot after 10 games. Manager Dermot Drummy had brought in an incredible 17 players ahead of the August 2016 transfer deadline including striker James Collins from Shrewsbury, and appeared to have moulded them immediately into an effective unit. Unfortunately it was not sustained, and Crawley had slipped into the bottom half by mid-season. They won just 5 more games after that, and were only certain of staying up with three games to go. Drummy departed by mutual consent in May and was replaced by former Liverpool and Australia star Harry Kewell, taking his first steps in professional management. The main problem last season came up front with only 53 league goals scored, 20 of which came from the now-departed Collins. More than 70 were conceded, and manager Kewell has sought to overhaul his midfield this summer in an attempt to cure both ills. The loss of Collins is a major blow – 20-goal strikers are hard to come by at this level, and no other striker managed more than 2 last season. Giant Dutch striker Thomas Verheydt could do well after scoring 11 goals last season in the Dutch second tier with MVV, but there appears to be a shortfall in striking options. Kewell is something of an unknown quantity, a big-name appointment in a relatively minor league. Success as a player is no guarantee in management, and life at the bottom end of the Football League is an unforgiving environment. Kewell put Crawley’s 6-0 pre-season home defeat by Brighton down to individual mistakes, which is either slightly naive or a precursor to disasters to come. Although they will not be meeting the likes of Brighton every week, Crawley come into the 2017-18 season on a run of 1 win in 14 games, and no win in 7. Kewell’s appointment at Broadfield Stadium could prove to be brilliantly imaginative, but he needs to reverse that negative momentum quickly if another relegation battle is to be avoided.
Prediction: Relegation battle, may stay up by the skin of their teeth.
Lincoln City: Last Six Results (League Two):
Lincoln City 2-2 Notts County
Barnet 1-1 Lincoln City
Lincoln City 3-1 Newport County
Lincoln City 2-2 Swindon Town
Cambridge United 0-0 Lincoln City
Lincoln City 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Next Two Fixtures (League Two):
Crewe Alexandra (h)
Coventry City (a)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 7,320 (v Barnet)
Highest: 9,603 (v Notts County)
Total: 145,987 (17 games)
Average: 8,587
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Matt Green (9)
2: Matt Rhead (7)
3: Harry Anderson (6)
4: Michael Bostwick (4)
5: Ollie Palmer (3)
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.
Head-to-Head:
28/10/17: Lincoln City 0-0 Crawley Town (League Two)
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City FC for the photograph.
– @CrawleyTown (a): Form, Attendance Stats & More:https://t.co/JMcv7awIpU#Crawley #ImpsAsOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) February 17, 2018
