Does the past lead the way for the next result?

By Nathan Jackson
January 26 2006

An interesting trend about our recent games against Bristol Rovers is, that the results always match each other. When the Imps have won one of the games, Bristol Rovers won the other and draws were followed by other draws, does history indicate City will get an 8th draw in 12 matches?

Bristol Rovers had been relegated to this division during the summer and made the trip to Sincil Bank on Saturday 15th September and there was a 3 minute silence for those who had died in the attacks on the Twin Towers. It was a very cagey game and it was no surprise to see that the teams finished the season 22nd and 23rd, a position that would have gotten Rovers relegated the season afterwards, however, with the only relegation place being taken up by Halifax all season, neither team worried about the drop. However, Bristol Rovers continued their otherwise impressive start to the season when in the 37th minute, Kevin Gall volleyed past Paul Pettinger, who was replacing Alan Marriott who had made several high profile mistakes in the opening few games. It finished 1-0 in a game that will only be remembered for that goal.

The return fixture in February, City took a surprise early lead when good work from Bimson saw Gain released into the box and the midfield unleashed a thunderous shot along the ground which sailed into the net and made it 1-0 to the Imps. Bristol Rovers deservedly equalised midway through the half when Sergio Ommel headed in Nathan Ellington's cross. However, it turned out to be a good day for the Imps when City won a free kick about 30 yards out on the left. Justin Walker's free kick went through everyone before nestling into the corner of the net and giving the Imps, what would be their second and last away win of that season.

7 months later and a lot had changed. The game on October 12th 2002 was at the Memorial Ground and the Imps were in a high position whereas Bristol Rovers were again struggling down at the bottom, however, it was a good day for the Pirates as early on in the first half when McKevver's corner flag bound shot, hit Ben Futcher and went in for an own goal. It didn't get any better for City as in the 52nd minute, Simon Weaver handled the ball in the area to give away a penalty which Grazioli confidently put away to give the blue and white's a respectable 2-0 victory over the Imps.

Rovers made the return trip at the end of March and the game was as good as over as early as the 30th minute. City took the lead when Peter Gain fed in loanee Daniel Webb, who despite appearing to be a few yards offside, spun on the ball and placed it past the dispairing Miller. However, within a minute, it was 1-1 after Astafjves found time and space in the box to put the ball past Paul Mayo, who was doing a breakdance  on the line. However, it was 2-1 again within 10 minutes when Ben Futcher headed Peter Gain's cross in.

Bristol Rovers became the first team to visit Sincil Bank after Keith Alexander fell in and the Imps, complete with "Get Well Gaffer" shirts, took the lead early on when Simon Yeo slotted home from 12 yards out to give the Imps a fairly deserved lead. However, City's defence fell asleep 6 minutes later when Wayne Carlisle found himself completely unmarked in the box and he had of time to coolly slot past Marriott. Ben Futcher scored from a goalmouth scramble in the 56th minute before Gary Taylor-Fletcher headed into the net with 3 minutes to go from a deep penetrating ball into the box.

City's final away game of the regular 2003/4 season was far from a good memory for the Imps and as soon as the 7th minute when Paul Tait had a virtually open net to shoot into after former-Imp, Lee Thorpe, had his shot parried by Marriott. City however did manage to score 17 minutes later when Futcher headed a corner goalwards and Marcus Richardson decided to be greedy and put the goalward bound ball into the net, just 1 yards out from goal. However, Paul Tait made it 2-1 midway through the 2nd half when the Imps' defence went to sleep and he slotted home from a narrow angle before Lee Thorpe also took advantage of slack marking as he shot in from only a few yards out.

City's trip to the Memorial Stadium last season was a bit of a bore-a-thon and the only real piece of action came towards the end when Jamie Forrester hit the post from close range and it continued both side's relatively bad start to the season.

The return game at Sincil Bank saw the meeting of 2 very inconsistent sides. The first half was one of the worst halves of football seen at Sincil Bank last season, however, it was 1-0 to City soon after half time when Matt Bloomer floated a ball to the back post, where Francis Green was waiting and he had the simple task of tapping the ball in. However, 5 minutes later, ex-Imp, Junior Agogo scored against the run of play when he scuffed a shot in from 12 yards before doing a rude gesture towards Ian Atkins and being sent off. Surely anyone doing a rude gesture towards Atkins deserves praise, not a red card.

This season's game was a fairly entertaining 0-0 draw that was ruined by heavy rainfall in the second half.