Imps travel to another fortress
By Nathan Jackson
January 20 2004
The Imps travel to Doncaster Rovers on Friday night in search of 3 points to maintain a playoff push but if recent displays continue then we might as well kiss goodbye to the playoffs and a defeat would almost certainly rule out our minor hopes of top 3.
After the diabolical displays by the Imps in the past 2 games, the next opponents don't look like a team that the Imps can even get a point against if those 2 displays are repeated. Doncaster were one of the favourites to go down at the beginning of the season but have done VERY well since getting promoted through the conference playoffs last season. Despite having lost the same amount of games as the Imps, they have made those draws into wins and lay 5 places and 13 points ahead of the Imps as they seek to go up as champions.
Their home form is only bettered by Oxford as they have only lost once all season in 13 home games (Hull have also only lost once at home but in 14). That defeat came at the hands of the other team promoted from the conference last season, Yeovil Town who have also done very well this season. Their away defeats have come at Hull, Doncaster (both 2-1), Darlington (2-1), York and Northampton (both 1-0).
They also have the 2nd best defence in the division with only 24 goals, (Oxford have conceeded 20 whilst Lincoln and Hull have conceeded 26 each)
TEAM NEWS FOR THE IMPS
Richard Butcher is still a major injury worry for the Imps but Peter Gain is definatly out for 4 weeks after hurting his leg in Saturday's nightmare against Torquay. Richard Liburd was back on the bench for that game so we can all relax now.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
The game earlier in the season which ended 0-0, was suprisingly one of the best games all season long and 0-0 didn't reflect the true nature of the game.
Leo Fortune West had the best chance out of any player but he somehow passed the ball wide of the open goal from all of 6 yards out.
City definatly have the advantage over recent meetings before that though have winning the previous 5 games and not losing to Doncaster since February 18th 1995. Doncaster infact, have only beaten City 29 times out of 102 compared to Lincoln's 45.
LAST 5 RESULTS AGAINST DONCASTER
CITY 0 DONNY 0
DONNY 2 CITY 4
CITY 3 DONNY 2
DONNY 1 CITY 3
CITY 4 DONNY 0
PREDICITIONS
If I was going on history, I would say an Imps win but City have been awful recently whilst Doncaster are on a roll and I can't see that changing seeing City slide furthur away from the top 3 and most likely out of the playoffs come Saturday evening.
DONNY 3 CITY 1
