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.
Ahead of tomorrow’s game against Grimsby Town, 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.
Lincoln City: Last Six Results (League Two):
Cambridge United 0-0 Lincoln City
Lincoln City 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Crawley Town 3-1 Lincoln City
Lincoln City 1-4 Crewe Alexandra
Mansfield Town 1-1 Lincoln City
Chesterfield 1-3 Lincoln City
Next Two Fixtures (League Two):
Morecambe (a)
Exeter City (h)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 7,320 (v Barnet)
Highest: 9,603 (v Notts County)
Total: 154,259 (18 games)
Average: 8,570
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Matt Green (10)
2: Matt Rhead (7)
3: Harry Anderson (6)
4: Michael Bostwick (6)
5: Ollie Palmer (5)
Scotimp’s Views From the Season Preview:
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.
Grimsby Town: Last Six Results (League Two):
Grimsby Town 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Crawley Town 3-0 Grimsby Town
Cambridge United 3-1 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town 0-1 Exeter City
Carlisle United 2-0 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town 1-1 Port Vale
Next Two Fixtures (League Two):
Coventry City (a)
Stevenage (h)
Home Attendance Stats (League Two):
Lowest: 3,023 (v Swindon Town)
Highest: 7,669 (v Lincoln City)
Total: 82,426 (19 games)
Average: 4,338
Top Scorers (League Two)
1: Mitch Rose (5)
2: Siriki Dembele (4)
3: Danny Collins (3)
4: JJ Hooper (3)
5: Jamille Matt (3)
Scotimp’s Views From the Season Preview:
Grimsby had a disappointing first season back in the League, with three managers at the helm producing a mediocre bottom half finish. Some observers felt they had won promotion in May 2016 with their worst team for five seasons, and manager Paul Hurst brought in no fewer than 17 players prior to the transfer deadline. The natural momentum created by promotion disappeared very early on, with some poor performances and that revolving door to the manager’s office making it impossible for Grimsby to find any consistency. The side only managed 59 goals all season, and 19 of those were scored by the departed Omar Bogle. Proven strikers are required urgently if they are to improve on last season’s 14th place, but the signing of untested 20-year-old Harry Cardwell from Reading looks unlikely to change that significantly. To compound matters, six defenders departed during the summer including Josh Gowling, Shaun Pearson and Danny Andrew, and that degree of experience can be hard to replace. Manager Russell Slade has somehow managed to be named League One Manager of the Year on two separate occasions without ever having won a single promotion in his 700-game career. Taken together, another testing season looks to be on the cards, although Grimsby’s renowned supporter loyalty has seen season ticket sales hold up well. Grimsby undertook a very busy pre-season schedule of 11 games including an extraordinary number against ill-matched opposition (Cleethorpes, Grimsby Borough, Winterton, Tavistock, and Bideford), presumably as confidence-builders. But there is a noticeable lack of depth and continuity at Blundell Park, and some more rebuilding is required before Grimsby will be in a position to challenge at the right end of the table.
Prediction: Mid-table. The bookmakers’ forecasts of a bottom-eight finish look harsh.
Last 7 Meetings:
26/12/13: Lincoln City 0-2 Grimsby Town (Conference)
1/1/14: Grimsby Town 1-1 Lincoln City (Conference)
9/9/14: Lincoln City 3-2 Grimsby Town (Conference)
28/12/14: Grimsby Town 1-3 Lincoln City (Conference)
29/8/15: Lincoln City 1-1 Grimsby Town (Conference)
28/12/15: Grimsby Town 2-0 Lincoln City (Conference)
30/9/17: Grimsby Town 0-0 Lincoln City (League Two)
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City FC for the photograph.
– @OfficialGTFC (h): Form, Past Results & More:https://t.co/Wp3fuKjgfK#ImpsAsOne #GTFC #EFL
? Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 16, 2018
