With just one win in 11 games and without a home success since September 27, the pressure is mounting for Lincoln City boss Keith Alexander as his side prepare to host financially-stricken Macclesfield Town at Sincil Bank on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
An unhappy spell of results on the pitch has led to growing unrest off it, with Imps fans growing ever concerned with their club’s plight ? a situation not helped by Alexander’s failure to beef up his ailing strikeforce before the emergency transfer deadline last week.
And it wasn’t for a lack of trying on his part as he contacted clubs as diverse as Manchester United to Kidderminster Harriers in his search for that elusive goalscorer. The likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Kenny Coleman of were approached, as was Derby County’s Paul Peschisolido who didn’t want to drop down to City’s level. And at a lower spectrum of football, Jon Parkin, Iyseden Christie and Drewe Broughton were all enquired about but to no avail.
But maybe, just maybe, on the basis of last week?s 1-1 draw with Northampton, Alexander, and the Imps faithful needn’t worry, as City’s front three of Gary Birch, Derek Asamoah and Richard Logan looked to be creating some sort of artistic understanding, which can only bode well for the immediate future ? as long as they can turn that understanding into an end product, ie. goals.
Logan will doubtless want to impress as he’s playing for his future. On loan from local rivals Peterborough United, the 23-year-old has been told to ‘further his career’ away from London Road by Posh owner Barry Fry, and he has already been quoted in the local press as saying he wants to stay with the Imps on a longer-term deal. But first he has to prove he can score on a regular basis ? City have plenty of strikers with decent ball skills and high work-rates, but sadly too many lacking in prolific tendencies in the opposition’s box.
If City don’t find that elusive striker soon then they can kiss goodbye to their hopes of attaining a play-off spot, never mind automatic promotion. But Alexander’s men were always going to struggle after the exit of a 35-goal strikeforce in the summer, and paying peanuts for less-than-talented frontmen was never going to prove a success ? there has been talk of one half of last season?s prolific duo making a hero’s return to the club, although the Simon Yeo rumours have all but died down now, but will presumably be resurrected once the Australia’s new A-League season ends in February.
Despite the anxieties of the City faithful, Alexander has urged the supporters to keep the faith and give his side their full backing at the Bank, saying: ‘It is vital they keep up the encouragement levels, especially when we are playing on our own patch. I’ve noticed in the past that the fans’ frustrations can seep onto the pitch and affect the players if all is not going well. That’s not good for he team, myself or the fans.’
That’s all well and good, but if the fare served up on the green baize is not of sufficient standard, then supporters will become disenchanted? and may vote with their feet, which could have a detrimental effect on the club ? just ask Saturday’s opponents Macclesfield, who have blamed a downturn in attendances for their current financial plight, which has resulted in a cull of their backroom staff, including assistant-boss John Askey.
Of course, the Silkmen’s dire situation could turn into City?s advantage as they have been making a lot of noise regarding big targetman Jon Parkin. With the purse strings ever tightening at Moss Rose, they may be forced into selling off the family silver and Parkin could be one of the first to go, although City will need to dig deeper than they have done for years in order to net their number one target ? but it could prove to be the best move they made since plucking Yeo from obscurity three years ago.
On the team news front, Alexander has been given a massive boost with the return of Lee Beevers from suspension, while skipper Paul Morgan has shaken off a knock and will play. Defensive colleague Colin Cryan also returns to bolster the Imps backline, with Alexander having the luxury of a virtually fully-fit squad to choose from.
