Imps hope to take sting out of Bees

Lincoln will attempt to abate a mini slump when they host Barnet at Sincil Bank tonight, minus the talents of the suspended Billy Knott.

Defeats to local rivals Mansfield and Notts County have stalled the Imps’ push up the table and Danny Cowley will be keen to see his men get back to winning ways in front of their own fans.

The club appealed against Knott’s very harsh red card in the 4-1 loss at Meadow Lane on Saturday, but the FA have backed referee Seb Stockbridge’s controversial decision to dismiss the City midfielder and not only will he miss the clash with the Bees, but also the encounters against Chesterfield and big local rivals Grimsby Town.

Knott’s absence leaves a gaping hole to fill and Cowley must to decide whether to recall frontman Matt Rhead, hand a first league start of the season to Elliott Whitehouse or recall Jordan Maguire-Drew, who has yet to play a single minute in September after featuring in every match last month, while Ollie Palmer will also be chomping at the bit.

Elsewhere, Rob Dickie is expected to keep skipper Luke Waterfall twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines by being named alongside Sean Raggett again, while Cowley is expected to keep faith with Paul Farman rather than throw Josh Vickers in for his first League start for the Imps despite calls for the former Swansea stopper to be handed a chance to show what he can do.

As for Rossi Eames’ Barnet, they will again be without deadly strike pair John Akinde and Dave Tarpey, who are both injured, although Ricardo Santos returns after missing the 2-1 home defeat to Crawley with a dead leg.

City target Simeon Akinola will also be part of the Bees’ squad after the sub scored with his first touch of the ball against the Red Devils on Saturday, but Jamie Stephens, Curtis Weston, Elliott Johnson and Richard Brindley will all miss the trip due injuries/lack of fitness.