Next Up: Exeter City vs Lincoln City
City’s winless run continued with a 2-1 defeat at Barnsley on Saturday, with Matt Taylor ruing the ten minute spell that saw the hosts score twice from very avoidable goals. Most City supporters will view the upcoming trio of fixtures in the next week more in hope than expectation with the top two visiting SJP on Tuesday and Saturday before a trip next Tuesday to another of the big-hitters of the division. As seems to be the case at the moment with City’s injury-ravaged side it was one in one out at Barnsley – Reece Cole made an earlier than rumoured return off the bench but loanee Timur Tutierov pulled up during the warm-up. Taylor has provided positive news on others who are out currently, with the likes of Danny Andrew and Ed James thought to be close to returning, which would boost the depleted defensive resources. Elsewhere Taylor hinted at moving to two strikers with Magennis and Wareham appearing to link up well again having combined for City’s goals against both Burton and Barnsley.
Most pundits had Lincoln as possible playoff contenders, but following a stunning win in what is looking increasingly like a title decider at Cardiff on Saturday, Michael Skubala’s side are looking like certainties for a return to the second tier after an interval of 65 years. The Imps are on an amazing 18 match unbeaten run in the league dating back to late November, and have lost five matches all season, and eight of their last nine matches have been victories. They have score 23 goals in those nine matches, indeed their last four matches have yielded 12 goals for and none against. Despite this, nobody has yet reached double figures in the league, with four players having scored more than five each, meaning there isn’t a particular focal point for Taylor to concentrate on in terms of stemming the flow. Reeco Hackett and Rob Street each have eight goals in the league while Freddie Draper and Jack Moylan have seven apiece.
One of Lincoln’s five defeats, and their only one in front of their home fans, came against City. Having dominated the match, the hosts were sucker-punched by a fine Kevin McDonald effort in injury time. At least there was a goal, which was more than can be said for either fixture last season – the corresponding match was notable only for the red card shown to Ryan Woods for about his 17th bookable offence. Lincoln have the upper hand in league head to heads with 28 wins to City’s 21, 20 matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Carl Brook
Assistant Referees: Ciaran Barlow and David Middleton
Fourth Official : James Tewson
The last time Carl Brook took charge of an Exeter game was in August when we comfortably beat Blackpool 4-1 at the Park. So far this season he’s taken charge of 29 games, showing 115 yellow cards and sending off 11 players.
Interview with Matt Taylor
Interview with Reece Cole