Good Friday looms as the Imps prepare to take on fellow promotion hopefuls Exeter City in what promises to be a cracking atmosphere yet again. In recent seasons, we have fared quite well on this day beating Cambridge United (H) 1-0 in 2014, Braintree Town (A) 1-3 in 2015 and Torquay United (H) 2-1 last season. The only reverse in recent times was the 2-3 defeat at Tranmere Rovers in 2016. In the two seasons 2011/12 and 2012/13 we didn’t actually play on Good Friday but played on Easter Saturday instead.
Exeter City had an excellent 3-1 home win over Swindon Town on Saturday to move above Mansfield Town into fifth place on 66 points, five more than the Imps who sit just outside the play-off places. At the same time, City were picking up what could yet prove to be a very valuable point at Morecambe where, just the previous Saturday, Exeter lost 2-1. It is plainly evident that we are faced with yet another ‘must win’ game on Friday, then.
Current form shows very similar outcomes for both sides; the last four have yielded 8 points for the Imps and 7 for the Grecians; last six it’s 8 for us and 11 for them; last eight, 12 – 14 and, finally, last ten shows Imps 16 points and Grecians 15, so fairly even. We are currently on a run of four games without defeat whereas for Exeter it’s two; successive wins Vs Port Vale and Swindon. We were beaten 1-0 at St. James’ Park back in the sunshine of August, my first game of the current season, and we played very creditably that day and maybe should have gained a point.
Danny Cowley has been a fan of the 4-3-3 system of late, but I think he will revert to 4-4-2 for Friday’s game. He has also remained faithful to his starting eleven during that run, but I fully expect to see some changes this week, especially with having another difficult looking away game at Carlisle on Monday. Luke Waterfall has completed his (foolishly gained) three-match ban and I wouldn’t be surprised if he were to be in the starting eleven alongside Scott Wharton who has certainly merited his place in the team recently. That would mean Michael Bostwick returning to midfield at the probable expense of Elliott Whitehouse. Jordan Williams has been given an extended run in the side and he may just keep his place, if not, Danny Rowe or Harry Anderson would step up. Alex Woodyard would remain in his normal position with Lee Frecklington making up the midfield four. The two Matts, Rhead and Green, should again start.
Other fixtures on Friday which are of interest to us include: Newport County Vs Coventry City and anything less than a home win would put an end to the Welsh team’s already thin promotion aspirations but would help us a lot. Mansfield Town Vs Accrington Stanley is the second of such fixtures and I am sure fellow Imps will be rooting for the away side to claim all three points. Finally, there’s Notts County Vs Wycombe Wanderers, another intriguing tie and another where the away win would probably be the best outcome for the Imps; I mean, even the most ardent City fan must realise that automatic promotion is now beyond our reach?
The referee for Friday’s game is Tom Nield.
Prediction: It will be a very tight game and it may fall to a substitute to win all three points. Ollie Palmer springs to mind. Another tremendous attendance, although don’t expect many from Exeter, I’d suggest no more than 250 away fans. Home fans ought to be one of the highest of the season with it being a Holiday weekend and the Stacey West open for home fans, too, with maybe over 9,000 Imps in the ground? I reckon it’ll be a nail-biting 1-0 or 2-1 home win in front of just over 9,200 in attendance.
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City FC for the photographs.
Easter Weekend: Imps To Feast On Eggseter In Cracker?https://t.co/jIYotLO5uq#ImpsAsOne #ECFC #EFL
? Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 28, 2018
