Imps face Old But New Stanley

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1st September 2006

Lincoln City entertain a new but familiar name at Sincil Bank on Friday evening.

Tonight, Lincoln City will face Accrington Stanley in a League Two match that has been brought forward to avoid a clash with international matches that take place on Saturday afternoon.

Accrington Stanley are a familiar name throughout football despite, prior to a few weeks ago, not having played a Football League match for 44 years. The name Accrington is famous for being founder Football League members in 1888. It is also infamously linked with a milk advert from the mid-1980's.

However, although the name Accrington Stanley has now returned to the Football League, this Accrington Stanley are a different club. The present Accrington Stanley was formed in 1968 after the original club suffered financial hardship several years previously.

Since 1968, the club has progressed steadily through the non-league pyramid until they reached the summit during last season. Once at the summit of the Conference, they remained there throughout the majority of last season and thereby ending as runaway Conference Champions.

Unfortunately, Accrington have found the transition from the Conference to the League One a mixed experience. Accrington have won just one of the five opening league fixtures although they did shock Nottingham Forest by 1-0 score line in the Carling Cup first round.

Accrington's main problem appears to be a lack of scoring ability, for they have scored more than goal just once during their past six fixtures. Their cause at Lincoln will not be helped by the loss of leading scorer Romuald Boco, who has score two of Accrington five goals. Boco is absent from his match as he has been called up for Benin's African Nations Qualifying match against Togo.

Lincoln head into this match on the back of an excellent 4-2 victory at Mansfield Town. However, Imps' Head Coach John Schofield will be forced into two team alterations as Jeff Hughes is away with the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad while Ryan Amoo is suspended.

New signing Nicky Eaden could make his Imps' debut at right-back, with Lee Beevers taking over Amoo's midfield duties. Ryan Semple is most likely to replace Jeff Hughes although first year professional Owain Warlow is also in contention.

Odds for the game:

Lincoln 7/10
Draw 12/5
Accrington 7/2

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