For the third time in under a month, Lincoln City will face Hereford United on Tuesday, December 14th (kick-off 7.45pm), hoping to secure an FA Cup third round tie with Wycombe Wanderers in January.
The Imps faced Hereford on two consecutive Saturdays in November – winning their home League Two encounter 3-1, before playing out a hard-earned 2-2 draw at Edgar Street in their FA Cup clash, meaning the tie would have to go to a replay.
The match was originally scheduled to be played last Tuesday, December 7th, but the Sincil Bank pitch was deemed too dangerous to be played on, leading to a rearrangement a week later.
The adverse weather conditions that have swept through the country recently have meant the Imps have seen their last three fixtures postponed. Along with the FA Cup replay, League Two clashes against Cheltenham (December 3rd) and Oxford United (December 11th) have both fallen foul to the elements, despite a desperate attempt from fans to clear the Sincil Bank pitch of snow ahead of the latter.
Lincoln will be looking to the League Two table for encouragement ahead of the game, with Hereford currently propping up the other 23 teams, four points from safety. The Bulls also haven’t won since ensuring their place in the FA Cup second round with a 5-1 demolition of part-timers Hythe Town— six games ago.
In contrast, the Imps have won three of their last five, but still find themselves teetering over the League Two drop zone in 22nd place.
Should they overcome Hereford on Tuesday, Lincoln will be making their second consecutive appearance in the FA Cup third round, having beaten AFC Telford United and Northwich Victoria to set up a lucrative tie with Premier League side Bolton Wanderers in last season’s competition.
Even though Wycombe aren’t in the same league as Bolton, both literally and financially, Lincoln manager Steve Tilson will be well aware that the tie gives his side a fantastic chance to progress a step further into the fourth round— something which they haven’t done since the 1975-76 season.
Lincoln will be boosted by the return of Delroy Facey from international duty, whilst MK Dons loanee Luke Howell is also back in contention. Clark Keltie and long-term absentee Paul Green will face late fitness tests, with Tilson unlikely to rush the latter back into the first team in time.