Imps take pillows to face boring Oxford
By Nathan Jackson
January 12 2004
The Imps face probably the most boring team in the Division on Saturday as they travel to top of the table Oxford. Oxford have beencalled the most boring team by A LOT of fans due to their 11 men behind the ball approach.
The Imps are still 6th in the table after a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night between Swansea City and Lincoln's next opponents, Oxford. Oxford have been described by many as the most boring team in the Division. They are the only team I have seen that quite literally play with 11 men behind the ball. However, to their credit, it is proving an extremely effective tactic after only 1 defeat so far this season.
That one defeat came away at Doncaster. Their home form is excellent having only drawn 2 games and won the rest, something that no other team has come close to matching. Infact, Oxford remain as the only team to have won at Sincil Bank this season and that was the first week.
Oxford's excellent form is due to all an all round team performance of boredom but one of their main strikers, Julian Alsop, is suspended for Saturday's game. Oxford have replaced him with Carlisle's Richie Foran. No offence to Foran but if I was top of the league and wanted a new striker, I wouldn't choose someone who can't even get in the first team at the bottom of the league team.
City's form is excellent recently having lost only twice since August. If the Imps hadn't got off to such a bad start, then maybe we'd be where Oxford are now. Infact, recent weeks have seen the Imps move from being playoff contenders to actually playing for the title. If City beat Oxford on Saturday, they will only be 8 points off the top of the table. Infact, some bookies have cut the Imps title chances to 5/1.
City's recent history against Oxford has been very poor, City have infact lost the last 4 meetings (the last 3 have ended 1-0). City were unlucky to lose last season at Kassam Stadium.
Simon Yeo almost put the Imps in the lead after 2 minutes but his low shot hit the post and then he missed from less than a yard out on an open goal. He then had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside even though there were 3 defenders on the line. Oxford then gained a last minute penalty thanks a very poor referring performance. Scott scored the penalty that turned out to be City's 4th defeat in row. However, they only went on to lose one of the next 17.
LAST 5 RESULTS AGAINST OXFORD
CITY 0 OXFORD 1
CITY 0 OXFORD 1
OXFORD 1 CITY 0
OXFORD 2 CITY 1
CITY 1 OXFORD 0
PREDICTIONS
Now if I was going on form, I would safely predict a 1-0 win to Oxford, so I will. Sorry all Lincoln fans but I honestly can't see us winning against the team from slumberland.
