Score predictions - Lincoln away

For me, this is the toughest game we have remaining this season. At home, I feel we can beat anyone, and therefore will give Ipswich a good go next Tuesday, particularly if we are still in the hunt.

To remain in the hunt we first need to overcome a Lincoln City side with a bizarre home record. The bookies currently have us as 10/11 heavy favourites to break Lincoln's home resilience. Doing so won't be easy, as despite only having the 13th best home record this season, only Peterborough have come away from Sincil Bank with 3 points. The Imps have won just 6 of their home games, drawing the other 13. They don't score many goals at home, but have a very good defensive record too, making them difficult to beat on home soil.

Lincoln's form against the current top 6 in particular has been good. They've taken 4 points off Plymouth and Ipswich, 3 from us, 2 from Wednesday and 1 from Bolton. Only Peterborough have managed the double over Lincoln in the entire division (with a 3 and 4 nil win). They've also managed 4 points from Derby who have been a fixture of the top 6 for large parts of the season.

Our historical record at Lincoln is reasonably mixed. We did win our last 2 visits there, both in the league cup, most recently via a Daniel Bogdanovic winner in 2009, shortly after Adam Hammill had signed permanently for the club. The other was a 4-2 victory early in Dave Bassett's tenure. Prior to that, our last league meeting with the Imps was 1975. Our post 2nd world war record is won 5, drawn 3 lost 6.

The referee for this game is Simon Mather. He's managed to average 4.2 yellow cards in his 29 league games this season, and a red every 7.25 games. His only Barnsley game this season was our 1-0 away defeat at Morecambe. The winning goal was notable for being from a foul throw. He's taken charge of 2 Lincoln games this season, both in cup competitions, and both finishing 2-2 (vs Barrow and Accrington). He's relatively inexperienced, with this being only his 2nd season as an EFL referee.

Lincoln are to be without regularly goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who was sent off in their 3-2 victory over Port Vale yesterday. Their back up keeper is Jordan Wright, who doesn't have much league experience, having signed from Met Police last year. He did feature however for Lincoln in their 3-0 win vs the reds at Oakwell in the EFL trophy.

This is a very tough game on paper, but as usual, I think first goal wins it. Hopefully we get out of the traps early and give Lincoln something to think about. I'm going for 2-1 with Norwood avenging his red card in the FLT, and Phillips on the scoresheet inside half an hour.

 

Really tough one this but I’m not feeling A loss though. Close game 1-1 or a sneaky 2-1 to us

 

Tough game no doubt. But the Reds will grind out a 2-1 win.

 

Tough, tough one to call. Day off work means I’ll be in Lincoln for around 3pm hoping for a few pre-nerve pints…

1-3 away win; Cole, Connell and Phillips.

 

We'll win, the Team are gunner win, 5 - 0, i'm sticking with mi prediction. C,O,Y,R.

 

Got to be another penalty, wait all season for one then 2 in 2 games. 0:1 but who takes it? Norwood for me.

 

2-2

 

I usually seem to get these things wrong so I'll say 3-0 to Lincoln!

 

Given how poorly we performed at Exeter and Burton and taking into account Lincoln's decent ish home record then I think we will lose this.

2-1 Lincoln is my prediction.

 

Not feeling this one at all. I think it’s our hardest remaining fixture, Posh and Ipswich included.

2-1 to Lincoln, Phillips with a consolation.

 

Reds by four or five goals..

 

As always, first goal is crucial. Has a bit of an Exeter feeling about it this one….

 

2-2

 

Feels, for me, like the pressure's off a little bit now, given results elsewhere. We might well pip Wendy for 3rd, but the lads should be feeling supremely confident at the minute. Comfortable win. Not a cricket score, but a relatively easy night.

0-2

 

1-2 Reds

 

It won't be 0-0, that's the only thing I feel certain of.

 

Have you predicted us to win this season?!

 

Under normal circumstances I'd predict a draw, but it's pretty much a must win for us and they have nothing to play for. A proper battle, with us edging an extremely tight game by one goal.

 

They`ve done us twice this season so obviously 3 - 1 to us.