let's talk about the easter programme against Mansfield and Exeter

[selby]

  After a Saturday with no game for us and being transfixed keeping an eye on results of teams around us in the relegation area of the division which very much worked out OK for my nerves,  we go on first to a hard localish fixture against first up Mansfield Town, always a hotly contested game both on and off the field of play.
  Mansfield are not in bad form only a strong Arsenal side in the cup beating them in their last six games which also include credible results of an away draw at Bradford and a home win against an in form Reading team.
  So a hard game in prospect in a game that could well solidify our hope of staying in division 1 for at least another year. As ever led by Nigel Clough we know that they will be a very organised team , hard to break down, physical, and competitive, and any slacking in our work rate and concentration will be punished, and is always an interesting watch.
  Will Evans is their main striker on 11 goals in total with Oats and Akins  also dangerous and a a defence that is uncompromising to say the least and are not shy of the physical side of the game, they will pose a hard challenge, backed up by their normal loud supporters.
  With the early kick off and the promise of a hard game between two sides showing a bit of form it looks an attractive game for us watch.
  Two games  in four days  and a long journey to Exeter on Monday could well test our team physically as we come up against another side who have not had the best of seasons and have only gained 2 points from their last six league games  their latest a 0-0 draw yesterday to Leyton Orient.
  Surprisingly they do however in the shape of Jeyden Wareham have a top class striker with 19 goals to his name in all games and carries on their knack of unearthing good strikers. so will be dangerous.
   Unusually games against sides we beat early in the season when we showed a bit of early form and a chance for two doubles and also relieve  any anxiety about relegation and able to just enjoy the last few fixtures.
  As ever a lot to talk about and discuss after how well we have done lately, but still the old subjects of who is fit? can we keep the good run going? with a longer break to our next match, will that have been helpful? are you going to both games? please have your say.

[EasyforDennis]

I am quietly confident we will win both games. Is that my head or my heart saying this tho? 

[selby]

 EasyforDennis, I am not bothered I just hope your right mate.

[Barmby Rover]

Getting Mols back and fit for the action next Friday will be a big plus. I think that Rovers will be far more "up for it" than Mansfield and I reckon a 2-0 win there. Exeter at there place will be more difficult, they have a lot to play for and could well end up being turned over, however with our improved defensive performances I reckon we will come away with a point, 1-1.

[EasyforDennis]

EasyforDennis, I am not bothered I just hope your right mate.

I think if we do there would be quite a few on here getting a touch excited!!

[Danmckay456]

4-6 points would be an excellent return if we beat Mansfield on Friday I’m convinced we will beat Exeter on Easter Monday

[LincsRover]

4 points would be great from those two games 

[idler]

A City fan at my gym said that in the recent draw Mansfield were awful to watch. They were very physical, organised and stopped the flow of the game at every opportunity so probably not a match for the purists. I definitely think that we need to score first or it could be a long afternoon.

[Metalmicky]

Think I would be more than happy with 2 draws from the two games TBH, although 3 points and a win against Exeter would also be a good outcome.

[andy didcott]

1230 bloody kick off, why.?

[Chris Black come back]

Mansfield haven’t won away in the league since December and have managed just a single goal in their last three away league games.

[mpc123]

1230 bloody kick off, why.?

Im in the Dominican for this one, can I still pay for 12.30 games to watch live?

[graingrover]

MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )

[Spud]

1230 bloody kick off, why.?

Suits me tbh, I'm off away for the weekend straight after.

[rich1471]

If we win both games could we make a late playoff push or is it too late

[mpc123]

MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )

Thank you, it seems to just direct me to subscription, rather than just 1 payment for the Mansfield game

[LincsRover]

If we win both games could we make a late playoff push or is it too late

We’d need to win all our remaining games and some of the teams above us go into free fall. Most unlikely but mathematically possible I suppose?

[NickDRFC]

MPC ..yes via Rovers player plus ; you can pay for live stream per match ( when outside U.K. )

Thank you, it seems to just direct me to subscription, rather than just 1 payment for the Mansfield game

I’ve not done it for a few years but it used to only become available in the run up to the game (24 hours maybe?)

[mpc123]

OK, Thank you

[donnyguy]

The referees in both games have never done a rovers game before.

[selby]

   I have watched Mansfield quite a bit this season including their cup games, and their attacking strength is down each flank with their wide men stopping wide to the touch line and keen to take on the full back to get the ball into the box. a lot of their goals pull backs from the goal line.
  There defence however are not that great when directly run at but will commit fouls to stop the runs around into the box and the danger area, and their mid field is more comfortable going forward in the oppositions half than playing in their own half., where they have the odd rush of blood and panic.
  We will have to be at it ourselves, but are well capable of getting a result if we concentrate and play well.

[GazLaz]

   I have watched Mansfield quite a bit this season including their cup games, and their attacking strength is down each flank with their wide men stopping wide to the touch line and keen to take on the full back to get the ball into the box. a lot of their goals pull backs from the goal line.
  There defence however are not that great when directly run at but will commit fouls to stop the runs around into the box and the danger area.
  We will have to be at it ourselves, but are well capable of getting a result if we concentrate and play well.

I think their biggest strength is their athleticism. Think they will try and run all over us early. Oates is rapid and him and Evans are a real handful up top.

The way to stop us as an attacking force is to play three at the back, and have three men (wide CH, Wing Back, and a striker) in the channels when defending. That forces us to play through the middle and often stagnates us.

We have a bit more quality in there currently with Gotts and Lee admittedly. Our midfield three up against Russell, Abbott and Henry will be an interesting match up.



They certainly have the profile of a team that could make it very difficult for us.

[Avsuptem]

We need Mols back for these matches but it's all gone quiet about him. I fear he.may be out for the rest of the season.

[Fal]

We need Mols back for these matches but it's all gone quiet about him. I fear he.may be out for the rest of the season.

Grant literally said in this last presser that he will be back for this game.

[dknward2]

Current tickets left for Mansfield- 1563

Which is decent for a midday kickoff and on sky plus

[Colemans Left Hook]

Both of these teams are guilty of giving us deluded "notions of grandeur" by allowing us to score winning goals in the 88th min (penalty) v Exeter & 96+ minute v Mansfield - both of whom I expected to get relegated .

For me consolidation not delusion was the order of the day for the season. Yes dreams are still free at least until the next budget. The 4-0 away win failed to con me that we would be in the upper echelons. That competition is notorious for providing at least one shock result every season in the first round

Pre-season this division was packed with plenty of "paper heavyweight teams" and it is going to be more packed with them next season .

Every year the gap between the League divisions widens & the gap to Non League closes. But we all know that.

Don't get conned into believing Lincoln & their two American owners haven't spent a fortune on players (£350,000 for a Ukranian -probably 500K for a Bromley monster center half) plus a lot of expensive loanees  and a couple of pld heads signed (including tatoo man) Long in the toot Dareka has been a standout plus Mr Street in old man Collins absence- that old man Collins being out injured has been a godsend as they changed to a negative give the ball away and do the  breakaway trick also being heavily reliant on the long ball throw ins - Neanderthal style. For years I have been saying we need a long throw in merchant (adelukan take note)

I do wonder if they somehow conned the Americans that Abraham Lincoln was born in Lincoln.

Contrary to general opinion here I believe having a poor pitch to play on has helped us get away from the relegation zone as well as the new faces. Cardiff are now playing passing for pass sake predictable football (like we did til recently) and
getting nowhere.

Finally re Mansfield  on Jan 31st Wycombe  murdered them at Mansfield in a 0-0 draw and the Mansfield defence were a rough lot and they looked like they would drop down the table sadly not quite.

[Belle Vue Boy]

I saw Mols in Asda at 6pm tonight and after a brief chat and handshake he confirmed he’s ready for Friday and back fully fit  also what a lad pleasure to club and to talk too

[Chris Black come back]

Everyone available tomorrow aside from Billy. Almost full squad.