2008 : Another year to forget : The winless start
By theimps.tk
December 31 2008
Lincoln's start to the season didn't go according to plan. After all of Jackson's pre-season hype, City failed to win any of their opening five games in all competiions, but a certain Romanian agreed to join the club, but what else happened in the opening four weeks of the season?
So, the season began and first up was a trip to Rotherham United. Peter Jackson's pre-season hype saw over 1,000 fans make the trip, unusual for City to take over 1,000 fans to a game within 40 miles. City fielded most of their new signings and controlled the early periods but fell behind just behind thanks to Reuben Reid's tidy finish. City couldn't find an equaliser, although David Graham go close, and Rotherham moved to -14.
It wasn't long before City had crashed out of the Carling Cup, but it was far better than most had expected. City faced Derby, a side who hadn't won in any competition for nearly a year and it was a good start for the Imps, Ben Wright opening the scoring just after half time. However, despite numerous impressive Burch saves, the hosts eventually equalised just before full time through Nathan Ellington, and it was the Duke's eventual hatrick that put City out.
The 15,000th tribute was paid to John Reames by the club as he was given a minute's silence before the game with Dagenham. City dominated again and LJL opened the scoring with a neat finish before City had another ruled out just before half time for offside. Dagenham eventually pulled their way back into the game and it was only at 3-1 down that Jackson started changing things, something that would become a common trend during the season.
Another game and a fourth of the season so far, this time at Wycombe started having fans refusing to believe Jackson's pre-season hype. Granted, it was a fluke of a goal, but City offered little going forward and that was a problem was looked to have been solved when Adrian Patulea agreed to join the Imps, although his permanent club weren't happy about it.
The final game before he joined was a home game against Grimsby. City and Grimsby were two of the sides yet to win at this point and it showed as it was an awful game between two pretty bad sides. Grimsby scored first with a decent effort from Peter Till before Frecklington equalised for City from the spot.
Patulea then officially joined the next week and sparked a good run.