Can Sutton's City make it 9 from 9?

By theimps.tk
October 16 2009

Lincoln City will travel down to Sixfields on Saturday, hoping for something that Keith Alexander didn't manage in his four years back at the club, securing three points away at Northampton Town.

It's been three and a half years since Northampton left the division, and with them went Lincoln's consistent form. The sides were both involved in the 2003/4 and 2004/5 Playoffs, but didn't face each other as both lost in the semi-finals in 2003/4 to Huddersfield and Mansfield respectively, where Southend beat both sides on their way to promotion in 2004/5. Whereas City made the Playoffs again a year later, Northampton finally won promotion as they finished second.

Since then the clubs have had different fortunes, City have definitely gone backwards, whereas Northampton were within touching distance of the League One's Playoffs before last season's poor showing.

It's almost four years to the day since City last visited Sixfields and only one player remains at the club from that day, Scott Kerr. The Imps side has generally been going through a lot of changes in recent weeks, playing a 4-5-1 formation and that formation hasn't seen exciting football, but we're winning and keeping clean sheets, a very similar way to how Cheltenham won promotion in 2005/6.

Sergio Torres is due to make his last appearance for the Imps, although both Peterborough and City have agreed, in principle, to extend that loan. That looks unlikely to happen though due to Peterborough demanding the same financial package to make that happen. The Argentian's loan spell started slowly, but has gone from strength to strength since Sutton's arrival.

He will almost go straight into the midfield with the regular midfield starters Oakes, Shane Clarke and Butcher, but the other place is certainly up for grabs. Pulis had a generally poor debut, but Scott Kerr has had a pretty poor four or so years at the club. Without a new loan signing at the time of writing, it's a case of choosing between the poor and the bad.

Without conceding last week, a selection headache has arose at the back for the Imps. Cian Hughton has returned from international duties, whereas Janos Kovacs returns from suspension. With Watts impressing and Brown being the only regular first team player who can start at left back, the other two places are between Swaibu, Hone, Hughton and Kovacs. Hone appears to be a favourite of Sutton, and with Hughton being a natural right back, as well as being on a high from the aforementioned international appearance, it is likely that Swaibu and Hone will be the ones to miss out.

With that, the only two positions left are the goalkeeper and striker. Unless there is a major injury in either position, Rob Burch and Rene Howe will more than likely fill those positions.

Northampton sit three points below the Imps and have a mixed home record. Winning twice, losing twice and drawing twice, combined with only four points from six games on the road, will lead to lower-midtable mediocrity and/or a probable relegation battle.

Ian Sampson is now the man in charge at Sixfields, having become a playing legend at Northampton before retiring after many, many years. He replaced Stuart Gray, a man who took personal responsibility for their relegation last term.

Their squad includes one or two familiar names, including Simon "Can't Catch, Won't Catch" Brown, as well as strikers Steve Guinan and Adebayo Akinfenwa. Guinan has a habit of scoring past the Imps and scored a hat-trick at Sincil Bank for Hereford in 2007, whereas Adebayo Akinfenwa has played for virtually every team in English football, except for the Imps.

Northampton also have the fabulously named John Johnson on loan from Middlesbrough.

The Imps could move into the top 12 with a win, whereas a win for Northampton will move them above City on goal difference.