The Imps are in danger

When Lincoln won five successive games between January and February it looked as if their season was safe. But, after a winless run of nine games, the Imps are now looking back over their shoulders as they bid to maintain their Football League status.

Manager Steve Tilson seemed to have improved the team spirit at Sincil Bank and was held in higher regard than his predecessor Chris Sutton. But, whatever the fans’ opinions of Tilson are now, the most important thing is sticking together and ensuring the Imps avoid relegation.

City could have given their survival hopes a big boost with a home win over fellow strugglers Cheltenham on Easter Monday, but it just wasn’t to be. Lincoln started the game brightly but failed to create enough decent clear cut chances. The best effort of the first half fell to the usually reliable Ashley Grimes, but the on-loan Millwall striker shot over the bar. The Imps fans also felt aggrieved midway through the first half when Josh Low lunged in on Danny Hone and only received a yellow card.

Low was again in the thick of the action when he headed home the opener after 65 minutes and, although there was still plenty time left to get back into the game, the goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Lincoln.

You wouldn’t have thought these teams were playing to preserve their Football League status, although it was clear that a team with one of the worst home records in the division was playing against one of the poorest travellers in League Two. Cheltenham virtually assured they would be in League Two for another season when Danny Andrew curled in a free-kick two minutes from time.

The frustration was building for the Imps fans who began chanting “You’re not fit to wear the shirt”. This could be seen as a fair accusation to many of the players as the majority of the team disappointed on the day. They should have taken a leaf out of the book of Danny Hone and Paul Green, particularly the latter, as the duo put in a much more gutsy display than their team mates.

But the reality is Lincoln are simply not scoring enough goals at the moment and their home form is unacceptable. Tilson’s men still have control over their own destiny with two games to play, but Saturday’s trip to Oxford now takes on an even bigger significance.

The Imps lie down in 21st place in League Two and just two points clear of the relegation zone. Second-bottom Barnet have started picking up form at the right time and are just one point behind Northampton and only two away from Lincoln, while Burton and Hereford are also not safe yet. Lincoln certainly need to play with a lot more hunger and desire against Oxford, and in the final game at home to Aldershot, or they could be in big trouble.

Will they survive? I think so…but only just!