Preview: Lincoln City v Carlisle United

Lincoln City fans will be looking forward to their team’s second home league game of the season when Carlisle United are the visitors to Sincil Bank. We last played Carlisle on Tuesday 28 March 2006 when we lost 1-0 in Cumbria. Our last home game against them was on Bank Holiday Monday 29 August 2005 when we played out a goal-less draw. Of course, who could ever forget our 2-0 win at their place on 17 April 2004 which effectively sealed their relegation from the Football League but which will better be remembered for ‘that’ Mark Bailey goal. Another memorable game against them also came this century in our 0-1 home loss on 17 August 2002 with four players being sent off, one for Lincoln (Simon Weaver) and three for Carlisle (Richie Foran, Brian Shelley and Trevor Molloy) in a very bad-tempered match which spilled into the dugouts and the boardroom! It may come as no surprise to you that the winning goal came from a penalty, in the 66th minute. Sadly, this match was to be the very last one my dad attended, having followed the Imps since 1947; he died the following April, the day after we drew 0-0 at Cambridge, and on St. George’s Day which would have pleased him no end, him being a real patriot.

There is a possibility that we will see a new face in the squad, probably a striker, as Danny Cowley continues his search for new blood. I fear we will need this as our recent scoring record is pretty poor with three goals in three league games. Mind you, it cannot be disputed that we are creating many, many chances, just not taking them. Hopefully that will be resolved on Saturday. Carlisle will probably include former City player Tom Miller in their starting line-up, and I am sure he will be well-received by Imps fans as he was a firm favourite in the stands. The Blues began their season with a 1-2 home defeat to Swindon but have since won by the same scoreline at Cambridge United and also beat Cheltenham Town 3-0 at home and they come off the back of a 1-2 home defeat to Sunderland in the EFL Cup just two days ago. They currently sit in fifth place on goal difference, with six points.

I expect the attendance to dip a little following the amazing 8,060 who were there for the opening home game of the season against Morecambe, partly because it’s a Bank Holiday week-end and partly off the back of the defeat at Exeter City, hot on the heels of the disappointing result Vs the aforesaid Morecambe. I’m not sure why Carlisle have been given the Stacey West stand (1,056 seats to be precise) in view of the fact that they only took 364 to Cambridge two weeks ago. Still, maybe they will come in their droves! However, I think the gate will be around 7,500 tops.

Here’s hoping for our season to get up and running with a hard-fought, tight, victory of two goals to one. Then it’s Luton at home the following week.

Up the Imps!