Imps travel to Yorkshire looking for double deligh


By Nathan Jackson
January 29 2004

In the 2nd of 7 local (within 70) derbies in a row, the Imps travel to York looking to secure a win before Keith Alexander returns. If the Imps can secure that win, it will be City's first double of the season after winning 3-0 at Sincil Bank earlier in the season.

  • TEAM NEWS FOR THE IMPS
  • The Imps travel to a rather less than happy ground in recent years hoping to extend the run of only 3 defeats since August. Gary Simpson, in his last game in charge before Keith Alexander returns next week, has an almost fully fit squad to choose from. Peter Gain and Chris Cornelly are the only 2 people definatly out and long term injury casulty Paul Smith, has been forced to retire with permanent damage to the nerves in his back.
  • YORK'S SEASON SO FAR
  • York were originally predicted by many to go down this season after a very media filled campaign that saw them fill almost every paper but for the wrong reasons. Chris Brass was given the player/manager job and hasn't done a bad job so far.
  • After 4 games, York sat at the top of the tree on a maximum 12 out of 12 points. That all come to a sudden stop though as the next game saw them travel to Lincoln. The Imps won 3-0 thanks to goals from Gary Fletcher, Richard Butcher and a Paul Mayo penalty.
  • They still looked on course for a promotion spot though as they kept getting good results, until October. Since the beginning of September, York have only won 5 in all competitions. Those wins have come against Cambridge (2-0), Doncaster (1-0), Kidderminster (1-0), Rochdale (2-1) and Carisle (2-0) but they have also only lost 7 games since then. That is one of the reasons they still have a faint hope of a playoff place.
  • After Tuesday's 0-0 draw at Southend, York lay 10th with 40 points, 3 places and 6 points behind Lincoln who currently occupy the last playoff spot. However, one bit of slightly bad news for the Imps is that all but 1 of York's last 4 results, have stayed the same as the corresponding fixtures at the beginning of the season. They have lost to Northampton and Huddersfield after beating both of those in the first half of the season and drawn at Southend after also beating them.
  • HOME VS AWAY
  • A worrying sign for the home team is when the team visiting, has secured the same amount of points in their last 6 away games as you have in your last 6 at home. City have gained 10 points in the last 6 away games including wins at Mansfield, Boston and Doncaster. York have a similar record at home recently having won 3 of the last 6 at home and a draw to secure 10 points.
  • PREVIOUS RESULTS AGAINST YORK
  • CITY 3 YORK 0
  • CITY 1 YORK 0
  • YORK 1 CITY 1
  • CITY 4 YORK 3 (LDV)
  • YORK 2 CITY 0
  • PREDICTIONS
  • Bootham Cresent is far from a happy hunting ground for the Imps, the Imps haven't won in over 20 years there and you'd have to go all the way back to 1949 for the previous win at York. City have infact only ever 6 games there compared to York's 19 out of 36.
  • However, the Imps are a changed side from the other times I have been there so I believe we can possibly pull a win out of the bag. If York perform as they did at Sincil Bank, a comfortable afternoon should be ahead for the Imps. I predict a 2-0 Imps victory.