Dale’s diary.

City go into Saturdays clash with Rochdale, after completing back to back wins in the league
for only the second time this season.
They will be in a bouyant mood , if not at the crest of a wave (just yet).

However, Rochdale will provide a sterner test than either of their previous opponents and will be looking to avenge the home defeat that the Imps,
surprisingly at the time, inflicted on them a short time ago, indeed it put a dampener on an otherwise perfect month for the Spotland crew.
‘Dale will also be seeking to expunge last years 7 v 1 mauling at the Bank.

Historically, City just edge the proceeding’s between the two sides. They have met on 107 occasions since the first, way back in 1922.
The 53 meetings at Sincil Bank breakdown as; (City) W25 D14 L14, F101 A57, whilst overall it stands at W41 D29 L37, F160 A139.
Goals aplenty mark this particular fixture, largest victories being , Lincoln 7 v 1 Rochdale (last season) and Rochdale 7 v 3 Lincoln (Christmas day 1927).

City improving season comes up against Rochdale’s own, successful so far and this will be a stearn test to see if the improvement goes to another plain,
City will be hoping to pull off a second surprise win against their opponents, whilst Rochdale will be desperate to drive on with their promotion push.

Jacko claimed, rightly, we were awful when winning at Makkk on Tuesday and the Imps will need to improve their overall performance to pull this one off.
However, waiting in the wings, (I don’t think he will start), will be the Frectanian and I think we will see him take part at some time.
His inclusion might just be the overall edge we need to succeed, coupled with the fresh legs the Gasman will bring to the field as a second half substitutions.
I expect Brown to play at right back as a direct replacement for Green.

For the visitors;
Lee ‘up yours’ Thorpe will start his second game for the visitors and Bolton’s Chris Basham, on a 3 month loan, may feature at some time.
If Nathan Stanton has appealed against his 3 match ban, he will start, if not, he won’t.

Again, City need to show the new found steel of their last two games but, hopefully, this is now becoming part of their overall game, keep that and we may
well squeak a narrow win.