Notts v Lincoln... BIG match preview

Last updated : 11 March 2008 By Paul Smith
Life is looking bleak for the Magpies. A chance to haul back Barnet into the relegation scene went missing with a gutless 0-0 bore draw on Saturday - a game labelled by most as must win - including the players.
Meadow Lane... Derby day


If that is them going about their jobs in a must win fashion then the season looks set for abject failure and misery. But NCM are prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt, and they now have a chance to show an immediate response to critics by winning their first night match in 14 attempts.

It is a crucial game, and a local derby, but perhaps the players would prefer it to be away from Meadow Lane - the presure cooker where boss Ian McParland has admitted many have froze recently.

If they freeze against a poor Barnet side with just 100 visiting fans backing them, how will they cope in an even bigger game, and a local derby with about 1000 boisterous Imps fans in the Kop?

Please Notts, start saving this horrendous season.

Team news

Frecklington... Influential star misses out
Notts
- McParland has doubts over a number of his squad including Danny Crow and former Imps Paul Mayo and Richard Butcher, while Myles Weston, Gavin Strachan and Lee Canoville are struggling. Kevin Pilkington is definitely out.

Lincoln - Lenell John-Lewis misses out for the Imps, a boost for Notts considering the youngster is their most in-form player. He will be out for a month, while the game comes too soon for Lee Frecklington and Gary Croft. Lee Ridley is a doubt while former Magpie Mark Stallard sits out the second game in his three match suspension but will attend as Notts' guest of honour.

Form guide

Notts
- Just two wins in 16 now for the Magpies, and both against out of sorts Chester City. During that same spell there have been eight draws and six defeats, a spell that sees Notts in 21st position in League Two, just five points above the drop zone. At home Notts have lost their last three.

Lincoln - City have won six of their last eight to move themselves right out of the relegation zone and into mid-table. They were beaten 4-1 by Chesterfield on Friday in their first game since Peter Jackson left for treatment for throat cancer with Iffy Onuora replacing him as acting manager. Away from home City have six wins, one draw and eleven defeats to their name. They are eight points above Notts.

Last time out

Lincoln City 2-1 Notts County, Sincil Bank, Saturday November 24, 2007

A Lee Frecklington inspired City picked up a vital win when the sides last met, to lift City off the bottom of League Two and suck Notts into further trouble.
Silk... Hit back for Notts with stunner


The midfield starlet hit the winner after Gary Silk had got Notts an equaliser with a fine strike to cancel out Ben Wright's opener for the Imps.

In front of 4,503, including 1,060 from Nottingham, the game produced plenty of excitement and was a real end-to-end tussle throughout, played in front of a decent atmosphere on a cold day in Lincoln.

Jackson's Imps were relentless at the start with Wright, Louis Dodds and Owain Warlow all going close before Notts came back into it with Hector Sam finding some space and Richard Butcher nearly scoring once again.

But Wright broke the deadlock on 44 minutes, slamming home Paul Green's free-kick.

Silk's equaliser came out of the blue as he curled an unstoppable effort from a full 25 yards out past Ben Smith after 50 minutes.

Lawrie Dudfield and Sam both then had efforts but Neil MacKenzie was closest to giving Notts the lead with a good free-kick only just over, until Frecklington popped up with a fine winner with fifteen minutes left, running from the midfield and exchanging passes before rifling home.

Key men

Notts
- Michael Johnson's return to Meadow Lane created a lot of excitment, and he has illustrated why many were shocked by it considering there were a host of Championship clubs wanting him after Premiership Derby decided he wasn't to be offered a new contract at the seasons end.

The former Centre of Excellence graduate has been impeccable so far, with Notts yet to concede with Johnson on the pitch.

His pace, experience and calmness were a key factor in the Magpies' clean sheet against Barnet, and he is required to do that once more.

With the Imps impressive going forward, Notts' defence will be put under pressure and Johnson needs to keep his head and make sure that reflects onto others.

Lincoln - Louis Dodds will take the lead role as City's chief creator of
damage now fellow in-form wideman John-Lewis has been ruled out. With Frecklington also absent, Dodds will have further onus on him to again produce a matchwinng performance.

The Leicester City loanee, predominantly a forward, has played on the wing for most of the season but still found nine goals. The last two have been real gems, and he is never frightened to shoot.

The best finisher at the club, even with the likes of Jamie Forrester and Mark Stallard in the ranks, Dodds will be crucial to any Imps success, with his ability to break quickly and cross well difficult to defend.

Big battle

Ryan Jarvis
has showed he can work hard and put the
opposition under pressure to create chances for the Magpies. And up against Lee Beevers, that pressure could result in goals for Notts.

Beevers doesn't like being ran at with pace, and Jarvis' trickery and work rate could bear fruits against City's big defender.

Beevers is best against a taller figure, and wins most of his headers, combined with a no-nonsense approach. If balls are played high for him Notts will find it difficult, but if Jarvis gets service over the top or to feet he can win this battle with Beevers.

That would surely be a key influence on the game.

Likely line-ups

Notts (4-4-2)
- Russell Hoult; Adam Tann, Mike Edwards, Michael Johnson, Paul Mayo; Ali Gibb, Gary Silk, Jay Smith, Richard Butcher; Danny Crow, Ryan Jarvis.

Lincoln (4-4-2) - Alan Marriott; Paul Green, Lee Beevers, Danny Hone, Lee Ridley; Dany N'Guessan, Scott Kerr, Shane Clarke, Louis Dodds; Ben Wright, Jamie Forrester.

Prediction

Knowing a fair bit about the Imps through living there for three years, I fully expect them to pose a major test for Notts. Given that the Imps are a good attacking force, Notts' players are likely to be under pressure, something they have found difficult to combat. As much as it pains me, and this would pain me more than most results, but I fear a defeat is on the cards. 1-2 Imps.