By Nathan Jackson
October 24 2008

Lincoln City face a familiar foe on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Bournemouth. Bournemouth annihilated the Imps in the 2003 Playoff Final, just five weeks later City's victory on the south coast and it's now time for a bit of revenge, although it certainly won't be as easy as Bournemouth's unsure start to the season would suggest.

Around five and a half years ago, I sat in the Millennium Stadium and saw my beloved Lincoln City run out and face an excellent AFC Bournemouth side. Despite putting in a respectable performance, City were outplayed by Bournemouth. Despite that, that day will always live fondly in my memory and I hold no personal grudge against the Cherries. Having said that, it would be nice to put one over on them.

City have been on a roll recently and are currently second in the form table, winning three of the last four and not losing in well over a month. It looks like the good times are set to return to Sincil Bank, but it is imperitive that we keep this current run going. We have some difficult games coming up and now it's a case where we really need to make it just one defeat in nine games.

That run was extended on Tuesday night when City were generally the better side a Macclesfield team that had the all-to-familiar hoofing quality about them. It was yet another game where the Imps had dominated and one positive is that there have been very few times this season when we have been the worse team, seems almost strange that we've only won four times.

City have no new injury concerns and welcome back Danny Hone to the fold following his suspension. That return has lead many to speculate who will be partnering Janos Kovacs in the centre of defence. Frank Sinclair has the experience but Hone is the man in form and is arguably our best player at the moment. However, Jackson does definitely seem to favour Frank, so chances are we'll see him partner the Hungarian in between Beevers and Green.

Frecklington, Kerr and Oakes are likely to be the midfielders with N'Guessan and LJL pushing up to partner Adrian Patulea. The Romanian will be seeking to score on consecutive Saturday afternoons for the first time in an Imps shirt.

Bournemouth are a mere shadow of the team they were back in 2003. Despite a few decent seasons, they have struggled in recent years and it was to the surprise of few when they came down last season. The Fletcher's are long gone, along with most of the rest of Bournemouth's decent players from that promotion winning season.

They haven't made an awe-inspiring start to League Two life, winning just three times, although all three came against sides from inside the top 10. If it hadn't been for their deduction then they would currently be fourteenth.

I still think Bournemouth are too good to go down but they're running out of time to catch up.

5 years later and it's Cherries vs Imps again

Discussion started by theimps.tk (IP Logged), 24/10/2008 21:56

theimps.tk
24/10/2008 21:56

5 years later and it's Cherries vs Imps again

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