City travel to Lincolnshire this weekend for their final game of the season with caretaker-manager Simon Davies in charge following the dismissal earlier this week of Mark Wright and Graham Barrow.
Vital Quotes:
‘I know we will play four at the back, so we won’t be playing with three centre-halves.
‘The lads are looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to it. We’re just going to go there and slightly change the system, but we’re going to go there and play football and, hopefully, get the right result.
‘The lads had the day off on Wednesday and I spent all day watching videos of Lincoln and looking at team sheets from Christmas onwards. I know as much as I need to know about them.
‘The lads have stuck together quite well. I don’t think it’s been as difficult as people make out and they’ll get on and work hard on Saturday.
‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a crack at it. As a player and a coach or manager, you want to go as high as you can.
‘It is difficult because, for example, on Tuesday I trained everyone at the club because I was with the youth team in the afternoon. It’s a little bit strange but I’m enjoying every minute.’
SIMON DAVIES
‘Simon Yeo is going to want to shoot from everywhere and try to score as many as he can.
‘He’s going to get absolutely slaughtered by our fans and everyone is going to boo him.
‘People may think that will help us, but I don’t think so.
‘It gives the game spice and it will gee someone like Simon up.
‘A few players will be out of contract at Chester and will be looking to secure their futures at the club.
‘They know they will have to perform if they are to stay there.
‘That makes it even harder for us because they will undoubtedly raise their performance level.’
ALAN MARRIOTT
Lincoln City Team News:
Lincoln head coach John Schofield could recall midfielder Lee Frecklington for the visit of Chester on Saturday afternoon.
The homegrown product has only started one game in the last six after suffering a back strain.
During his absence, the Imps have found the net just once, and 10-goal Frecklington is pushing hard for a starting berth.
Lincoln need a point to seal a top-seven finish but defender Adie Moses is again struggling with an ankle injury and remains sidelined.
Leon Mettam (knee ligament damage) and Ryan Semple (knee) are also out but goalkeeper Simon Rayner has been recalled from his loan with Torquay.
Rayner, 23, will be on the bench after the Imps were forced to send Robert Olejnik, 20, back to Aston Villa.
Player to watch: Alan Marriott
The former Wrexham goalkeeper is in supoerb for the the Red Imps and was unlucky to miss out on a place in the League 2 team of the season.
Expect Marriott to annoy City’s defence yet again.
Chester City Team News:
Chester caretaker boss Simon Davies could make changes for the trip to play-off chasing Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.
Following Mark Wright’s departure at the start of the week, Davies takes charge for the first time at Sincil Bank and has admitted he is toying with the idea of changing City’s formation.
He has Kevin Sandwith available again following a one-match suspension but fellow defenders Simon Marples and Graham Allen are both still on the sidelines with their respective toe and calf injuries.
Davies is expecting an open game as City look to end a six-match winless run, while the Imps need just a point to secure their place in the play-offs.
He said: ‘They like to play football and that’s what we’ll be trying to do as well so it should be a good game.’
Player to watch: Simon Yeo
Against his former club, Yeo will want to prove a point as he did last week against Peterborough United.
Is sure to get a hostile reception from the Imps supporters too which should spice things up a bit.
Match Facts & Stats
Recent encounters between the teams:
2006/2007 – 09 Dec – Chester City 4-1 Lincoln City
2005/2006 – 10 Dec – Lincoln City 3-1 Chester City
2005/2006 – 09 Aug – Chester City 2-2 Lincoln City
2004/2005 – 03 Jan – Chester City 0-1 Lincoln City
2004/2005 – 25 Sep – Lincoln City 1-1 Chester City
1999/2000 – 23 Oct – Lincoln City 4-1 Chester City
1999/2000 – 25 Sep – Chester City 1-3 Lincoln City
Lincoln City’s dreadful home form has resulted in just 1 victory and 1 draw from their last six played. While The Red Imps have scored 5, a worringly large 12 have been leaked at the other end.
The away form of Chester City is pretty dire, losing every single one of the last six matches played! Blues have conceded 10 goals in these games, and only hit 1 in reply.
Lincoln City are just outside the promotion places, in 5th, having taken 71 points from 45 games. Chester City find themselves struggling down in 18th position in the league having picked up 53 points from their 45 matches.
Ref Watch:
Leicestershire referee Kevin Friend will take charge of a Chester City match for the third time this season having earlier officiated in City’s 1-0 home League 2 win over Bury and the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at Ipswich. He has taken charge over a Lincoln game on only one other occassion this term when he witnessed a 2-0 home defeat to Bury last September. Friend has issued 85 yellow cards and sent six players off so far this season in 33 matches.
Match Prediction:
Expect a rejuvinated City side to bravely fall at Sincil Bank and a huge sigh of releif to eminate from the Blues fans at the final whist as the realisation that this sorry season is finally over kicks in. (2-0)
Next Fixtures:
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