Imps only need a point..........Part 2

By Nathan Jackson
April 29 2005

City still need a point to guarantee the playoffs and given recent history, the game against Darlo could get it. The last 4 games between the two clubs at Sincil Bank have ended in a draw although Darlington desperatly need the points as well or face being overtaken by Northampton.

After last week's defeat at Northampton, City will try again to get that point that would all but mathematically confirm the Imps in the playoffs however, saying that, when do we ever make it easy on ourselves? As I've been saying all along, I don't want to go to Yeovil on the final day of the season needing a result to get in the playoffs, however, if City lose to Darlington and Northampton win, that will be the case.

On paper, this result could be a bit predictable as City have won 5 of the last 7 whereas Darlington are one of the most inconsistent teams in the division, however as Sid on the message board once said, the game isn't played on paper.

This section has become a bit boring to write in recent weeks, no injuries, a regular starting 11, it's all a bit predictable.

Most likely formation (Right to left)

Marriott

McAuley     Morgan        Futcher     McCombe     Sandwith

Butcher    Gain

Yeo      Green      Taylor-Fletcher.

 

Darlington got the season off to a perfect start with a 2-1 win over Grimsby Town on the opening day of the season but other than a win over Chester, that was their only win until October where they defeated Southend 4-0. They won 4 games in 6 and were suddenly in the promotion picture. They became inconsistant after that, their form was irratic so results were hard to predict. City went there in November expecting a hard fought game but came out 3-0 winners without being slightly worried. 

Their inconsistency was exemplified after this game, they won the next 3, lost the 3 after that, won the next 2 and then drawing 2. At one point, they failed to get a single back to back result, whenever they won, the didn't win the next game, when they drew they didn't draw the next and when they lost, they didn't lose the next game, it was impossible to predict what exactly you were going to see in the results column.

A tiny bit of consistency came about when they won 3 in a row but in the 6 games since, they've won 2, lost 2 and drawn the other 2. Darlington's biggest away win is a 3-0 thumping of Chester City, the biggest defeat was a 4-0 hammering at Shrewsbury on Boxing Day (Merry Christmas indeed).

Darlington have made several impressive signings since last season. Despite losing top scorer Barry Conlon, Dave Hodgson has brought in players including Craig Hignett, Clive Wijnhard and even ex Celtic star, Bobby Petta.