Is this Saturday the most important derby we've had?
By theimps.tk
November 16 2009
Saturday's derby against Grimsby Town could easily go down as one of the most important matches in either club's history. The Mariners need to win to bring them back into the pack, a pack that contains a Lincoln side that could move further away from the drop zone with a much needed win.
Neither side have won for over a month and both now find themselves in the lowe reaches of the table. Grimsby currently occupy the second relegation place, sitting 23rd in the table and three places behind the Imps, although City are five points clear.
In theory, this is the biggest and most important derby match that the Imps have ever had. We've had local derbies in the Playoffs, but it wasn't a total disaster if we didn't win promotion, but a defeat here could spell a near end to either side's Football League status and given how a lot of former League clubs now struggle to win promotion back, it makes this game very important.
A win would be massive for either club, in theory Grimsby could, in theory, move out of the relegation zone, although it would take a turn around of 9 goals to overtake Torquay United, whereas the Imps could give themselves a breathing space of 8 points over the Mariners with victory. However, it won't be an easy task as the Imps haven't beaten Grimsby in 3 years, only scoring once from open play in that time.
Grimsby infact have an excellent decent record over the Imps since they entered the division. Although City will look fondly back on wins of 4-2, 5-0 and 2-0, those are the only victories the Imps have recorded against their coddy opponents, compared to a whopping seven for the Mariners. Those results include defeats of 3-0, 1-0 and 2-1 in the 2005/6 season, a 0-0 draw in the JP Trophy in 2006/7 that Grimsby went onto win on penalties, 2-1 and 1-0 in 2007/8 and last season's 5-1 thumping. City haven't even scored from open play at Blundell Park since that 4-2 game, only scoring from a penalty and a header from a free kick.
With both clubs looking relegation in the face at this stage of the season, a win is vital for bothy sides and anything less than three points for either side won't be good enough. With Darlington hitting a bit of form, neither side can bank on there only being one relegation spot to avoid, and more to the point, the Imps have a difficult run of games coming up after this.
It may be a bit early to be calling this a six pointer, but for the Imps it's a chance to get a lot of breathing space, and Grimsby can kill two birds with one stone, moving back into the pack and dragging City down towards them.
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0-0 written all over it in front of probably our lowest ever gate for such a fixture.
Quote:mightyimp1
if it was at the other end of the table it might have been
In answer to the question - No.... 89' was good until that Judas Gilbert scored and half of Grimsby's home end entered the fray.
I would forecast a draw which would suit us more than Grimsby, but if we lose we are in for a full-on relegation battle. If we win, we get some space and time to allow recovery of some of our players.
Two sh1te sides played out in front of a 4,000 gate - all thoroughly depressing.