Any Previous? Lincoln City v Latics

 

Latics and Lincoln City have met 25 times down the years, but we haven’t faced the Imps since we put three past them at Springfield Park back in April 1999, 21 years ago, fair to say that both clubs have been on a bit of a journey since.

 

Our last meeting at Sincil Bank came in the August sunshine in 1998, the Latics fell to a 1-0 defeat, but went to make the playoffs, finishing 6^th in League Division 2, whilst Lincoln ended up in 23^rd spot and suffered relegation in their first season after promotion.

 

Highlights of that last meeting at Sincil Bank:

 

 

Stand Out Game – Wednesday, 8^th May 1985

 

Lincoln City 1:3 Wigan Athletic 

Freight Rover Trophy Northern Area Semi-Final

 

The game that set up the area final that saw Latics not only progress to Wembley but also make history winning the inaugural Freight Rover Trophy.

 

A solid performance from an inform Latics swept aside Lincoln with goals from David Lowe, Graham Barrow and Gary Bennett. Magic days.

 

Full Record v Lincoln City

 

Played – 25

Wins – 14

Drawn – 2

Lost – 9

 

Last Six Meetings

Competition	Date	Result
League Division 2	27 Apt 1999	Latics 3:1 Lincoln City
League Division 2	15 Aug 1998	Lincoln City 1:0 Latics
Auto Windscreens	09 Dec 1997	Latics 2:0 Lincoln City
League Division 3	04 Feb 1997	Lincoln City 1:3 Latics
League Division 3	21 Sep 1996	Latics 1:0 Lincoln City
League Division 3	09 Mar 1996	Lincoln City 2:4 Latics

  Grab a listen to the Lincoln v Latics preview podcast

Meet The Ref - Lincoln City v Latics

Latics are traveling to Sincil Bank on Tuesday night for the first time in over 22 years, the man charged with keeping order on the field of play is London based referee, Sam Purkiss.

 

Sam Purkiss

A graduate of Cambridge University (Oooh-er) the 32 year old is now working at Associate at law firm Harbottle & Lewis in London, where he specialises in regulatory matters relating to sport, sponsorship, the exploitation of intellectual property and publishing. Hmm better be careful what I write here.

 

Sam is an ex pupil of Queen Elizabeth’s High School in Gainsborough, hang on a minute, isn’t that close to Lincoln?

 

This is Sam Purkiss’ second season as a Football League ref, he has not officiated for either the Latics or Lincoln previously.

 

Of his thirteen games so far this campaign, five have come at League 1 level, three in League 2, the rest have been around the various cup comps.

 

Sam Purkiss Card Watch 2020/21

Games – 13

Yellows – 29

Reds – 5

 

Lincoln City v Wigan Athletic
Referee – Sam Purkiss
Assistants – Andrew Hendley & Oliver Bickle
Fourth Official – Carl Boyeson

 Grab a listen to the Lincoln v Latics preview podcast with Lincoln fan Jake Tonge

Wigan Athletic - Time Is Running Out

I really do hope that I am writing this prematurely and that a solution is found to the current situation regarding the stagnation of progress around the sale of the club, if not by this weekend, then by next weekend at the latest.

 

My big fear is the time issue, are we now running out of time, it has certainly hit me this past few days. The current squad, although seemingly not good enough judging on results so far, is better than no squad at all, with what is on the horizon contract wise we could be in a very sticky situation come 1^st February.

 

The bombshell that dropped on the 1^st July this year has turned into a living nightmare. We are witnessing the slow death of our club and it is torturous.

 

Sitting a drift at the bottom of the League 1 table, just two league wins all season, one draw, and on a run of 11 without a win in all competitions paints a desperate picture of where we are at, at this moment in time. 

 

The squad, which was threadbare to start with, has been decimated by injuries, we are facing uncertain times and unless there are dramatic changes to the squad having some quality in depth and a little bit of good fortune, we are heading into League 2.

 

Where do those changes come from? If we continue with this ridiculous stalemate they won’t come at all, in fact I can see it becoming worse.

 

Of the current squad three players are on short term deals that end in January, Will Keane, Dan Gardner, Viv Solomon-Otabor, a further four, Tom James, Darnell Johnson, Curtis Tilt, Matty Palmer are on loan and their loan deals also end in January.

 

Add to that Massey, Jones, both Evans’, Naismith, Obi, Garner, Pearce, Perry and Merrie all in the final six months of their contracts, it is a seriously worrying scenario that we are facing.

 

It is already being reported that Joe Garner is set to leave in January and follow both Dan Fox and Anthony Pilkington to India, any bid for the likes of Evans, Naismith and Massey would also be accepted to keep some income flow.

 

Starting a new season with such a dramatic turn over of playing staff would have us immediately on the back foot, if we are starting that season in League 2 then God help us as to where we end up.

 

You may argue that the squad needs overhauling and I would not disagree, but with no money and the club on its arse in administration that simply isn’t going to happen.

 

All very much hypothetical of course, but the potential for more heartache shouldn’t be lost on any of us, the EFL must make a decision and make it soon or this could become a reality. 

 

If the Spanish bid is good, then pass it, let’s get some stability into the club before it is too late, if not then move on and do that quickly because time is running out.

 

Meet The Ref - Latics v Bristol Rovers

Latics and Bristol Rovers face each other in a League 1 relegation zone battle tomorrow at the DW Stadium, the man hoping that there will be no repeat of the infamous ‘5reds’clash of December 1997, will be James Bell.

 

James Bell

The Sheffield based official is in his first season as a referee on the National List, having graduated from the National League where he has had just the one season. Previously he worked as an assistant (lino) and ran the line at Championship level.

 

So far this campaign, Bell has taken charge of eleven games, issuing five red cards! He’s had two games at League 1 level the rest have been in the various cup comps and League 2.

 

James Bell Card Watch 2020/21

Games – 11

Yellows – 33

Reds - 5

 

Wigan Athletic v Bristol Rovers
Referee - James Bell
Assistant Referees - Richard Bartlett and Wayne Grunnill
Fourth Official – Scott Oldham

 

Grab a listen to the Bristol Rovers Preview Podcast: