Shrewsbury To Test City

7th September 2006

Lincoln City face a serious test of their promotion credentials when they travel to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

So far, Lincoln City have remained unbeaten during their current League Two campaign, which equates to six matches unbeaten. This also includes a 100% League record for Lincoln City on their travels. Overall, this equates to third place in the league table - which makes Lincoln the highest placed non-relegated team in the League Two table.

Shrewsbury have also enjoyed a very good start to the 2006/07 season although they are no longer unbeaten. Last Saturday saw them lose 1-0 at Bristol Rovers to end their unbeaten start to their League Two campaign.

Shrewsbury's start to the season has not been quite as good as Lincoln's, for Shrewsbury have won just two of their five league matches. Unfortunately, they are yet to lose at Shrewsbury, so either their unbeaten home run or Lincoln's 100% record will have to give.

Hoping to dent Lincoln's record is former Imps' striker Derek Asamoah who is now playing for Shrewsbury. Asamoah was handed a free transfer in June after failing to create a lasting impression at Sincil Bank. Despite being classed as striker, Asamoah scored just two goals in 43 appearances. His last game for Lincoln was on 31st December 2005 as he spent the final six months of the season on loan at Chester City.

Asamoah has already equalled his Lincoln goal scoring statistics by scoring twice in Shrewsbury's 5-0 home victory against Boston United. Obviously there is great interest in Asamoah playing against his old club, but current Imps' Head Coach John Schofield has tried to implement psychology by telling the media that Asamoah should not feel that he has to make a point to the Lincoln supporters.

Shrewsbury have a doubt over striker Glynn Hurst, who has not played since Lincoln's last visit to Shrewsbury in April. Hurst is a renown goal scorer, and his absence would give Lincoln another psychological boost.

Meanwhile, Schofield has a different selection concern because he has too many in-form players for his first team. Regulars Ryan Amoo and Jeff Hughes both missed Lincoln's 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley. Nicky Eaden and Martin Gritton took Amoo and Hughes' place in the starting line-up as Lincoln switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Both Amoo and Hughes are now available again for selection leaving Schofield with the dilemma of choosing two players from the four.

Quite probably, Lincoln could still line up with a 4-3-3 formation with Hughes taking Paul Mayo's left-back spot. This would leave Gritton and Eaden in the starting line-up with Amoo returning to the squad as a substitute.

These two clubs first met on August 26th 1950 at Shrewsbury when Lincoln recorded a 2-1 victory in a Division 3 North encounter. Please click here for a full historical round-up of the major results between these two clubs.

Odds for the game:

Shrewsbury 13/10
Draw 11/5
Lincoln 9/5

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