Imps Online - Previews

LINCOLN CITY travel up north on a probably cold Tuesday night as they meet an inspiring Hartlepool side, as they attempt to bounce back from the not so happy week of disappearing out of the LDV Vans Trophy and their last league which saw the Imps battle back from 2-0 to share the points. However its not going to be easy with United on a nineteen (19) game unbeaten run.

When City went into half time at home against Shrewsbury Town on Friday night the team had given up and basically wanted to go home, but Alan Buckley wasn't having any of that defeatist attitude and he picked his lads up no doubt after going ballistic due to seeing a very poor first half effort. Whatever Buckley said it worked and Lincoln came out a different side, and a brace from Tony Battersby to rescue the game with a clever run through the defence to take the ball past the 'keeper and slot the ball into an empty net, and his second goal was batter than the one he scored against Cardiff City in a similar position a few weeks ago.

The Imps should not fear Hartlepool's impressive run because they to are unbeaten in the league under Buckley, that a 5 game unbeaten run and a total of 11, 2 at home which has seen 1 win and 1 draw meaning 4 points picked up at hame, and away we have 2 wins and 1 draw which means we have gained 7 points. Our away form has done a complete U-turn for the better and we are now a real force away from home and right now that is what City need since 7 of our 11 remaining games are away from home.

Buckley said : They are on a fantastic run at the moment. Nineteen games unbeaten is first-class and you have to take your hat off to them. But we have been on a good run ourselves."

Alan Buckley will most likely have to do without Tony Battersby as the Imps make the journey up north, the impressive striker of late pulled a hamstring in training on Monday, so Dave Cameron should come in to partner Lee Thorpe.

The City manager said : "Its a blow. He has done exceptionally well since I joined the club. The way we play suits him and he has scored some vital goals for us."

Other than that there are no other news of injuries so the team that battled back from a 2-0 half time score to end the game 2-2 should start. Which means Alan Marriott will continue in net, a back four, from left to right, of Perkins, Holmes, Welsh and Bimson. John Finnigan, Justin Walker, Peter Gain and Paul Smith are set to play in midfield, while Cameron is expected to partner Thorpe up front.

Hartlepool United currently lay in 4th spot under the manager of Chris Turner and are 7 points behind Brighton & Hove Albion in 3rd. United will be hoping to continue they impressive form looking to gain points on the sourhtern seaside club, but it's going to be tough since Albion have 2 games in hand.

Chris Turner will be with two of his players who beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0 away from home at the weekend with Tommy Miller and ex-Imps Tony Lormor scoring the goals. Darren Knowles will miss the match on medical advice, the hardy Sheffield born defender was keen to play, but has been advised against it after clashing heads with team-mate Chris Westwood at Plymouth and leaving the field on a stretcher. Neil Aspin should replace Knowles in defence.

Sam Shilton has is still suffering from 'flu and will take no part in the game as was the case at the weekend and didn't travel. New signing Jermaine Easter a Welsh striker is expected to take a place on the bench again after joining the club a free transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers on D-Day last week. Mark Tinkler should return to the squad after returning from suspension.

Hartlepool United (from) – Williams, Aspin, Barron, Westwood, Sharp, Robinson, Clark, Miller, Stephenson, Henderson, Lormor, Hollund, Fitzpatrick, Midgley, Tinkler, Easter.

Hartlepool will want to win to keep the pressure on all the other promotion hopefuls while Lincoln need to start off this triple away journey to a good start and climb away from the danger area, it hasn't been easy lately with most of the other teams in fight for league survival have also found form, it will be down to the games the Imps have in the end.

Imps Online’s pre-match prediction is a 2-1 win. Predicted scorers for Lincoln Cameron, and Paul Smith who will hope he gets more opportunity then on Friday night, and ex-Imp Tony Lormor will bag one for the home side.

MATCH STATS
	HARTLEPOOL UNITED	V	LINCOLN CITY
PROBABLE LINE-UP
	Anthony Williams (gk) Neil Aspin Michael Barron Chris Westwood James Sharp Mark Robinson Ian Clark Tommy Miller Paul Stephenson Kevin Henderson Tony Lormor		Alan Marriott (gk) Chris Perkins Steve Holmes Steve Welsh Stuart Bimson Paul Smith Justin Walker John Finnigan (c) Peter Gain Lee Thorpe Dave Cameron
SUBSTITUTES AVAILABLE
	Martin Hollund (gk) Lee Fitzpatrick Craig Midgley Mark Tinkler Jermaine Easter		Tony Bullock (gk) James Dudgeon Ben Sedgemore Paul Miller Mark Camm Paul Mayo Jason Barnett Anthony Henry
PROBABLE FORMATIONS
	5-3-2		4-4-2
LATE FITNESS TESTS
	None		None
INJURIES
	Darren Knowles (concussion) Sam Shilton (flu)		Grant Brown (broken leg - tibia & fibia) Richard Logan (sciatica) Tony Battersby (hamstring)
SUSPENSIONS
	None		None