Lincoln City return to the LNER Stadium this weekend for the first time in five games as they face up against recently promoted Doncaster Rovers.
Plenty has happened since the Imps found a 1-0 victory over then table-toppers Stevenage at the LNER Stadium, with Michael Skubala’s side winning just one of those away games since.
That victory came in their most recent Vertu Trophy clash against Barnsley on Tuesday night where goals from Frankie Okoronkwo and James Collins were enough to secure a 2-0 victory.
However, things haven’t been quite so positive in the league as City have failed to win since that victory over Stevenage, losing out to both Leyton Orient and Rotherham, whilst drawing with Bradford City.
That run also included a penalty shootout loss to Salford City which eliminated them from the FA Cup in the first round.
Understandably, that has been course for concern for some Lincoln City fans who are suggesting that their early season form may be coming to an end.
Credit: Graham Burrell
Fans took to Twitter following the Rotherham United game and one said: “Nice to see the lads starting the Christmas holidays in November again.”
However, with the Imps still sat sixth in the SkyBet League One table is everything as dire as it is made out to be, or is it just bad away form in a competitive league?
Every side currently above Lincoln lost out on Saturday, with the exception of Bolton Wanderers who started the day in eighth place and now sit third.
On top of that, the Imps are still only three points off Stockport County who currently top the League One table.
Therefore, with the Imps only losing once at home all season beating the likes of Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Stevenage at the LNER Stadium; surely there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
Before the start of this run that has seen Michael Skubala’s side win just two of their last seven games, their only loss came when they were reduced to ten men away to AFC Wimbledon.
Their first and only home loss of the season then came as they were beaten 1-0 by Exeter City in a game the Imps looked comfortably the better side.
Struggling away from home is simply the nature of the Football League with Luton Town, who currently hold the second-best away form in League One, already losing three of their away games this season.
Everybody knew at the start of this five away game run that it was going to be a struggle to consistently perform away from the fortress that is Sincil Bank.
Last season, the Imps lost away from home ten times but only picked up all three points on six occasions as they finished in 11th place.
While that may concern some people into thinking a repeat is on the cards, by this point last season the Imps had already lost three times at home in all competitions.
Therefore, while it is easy to see a pattern emerging where the Imps tend to lose track of the promotion challenge throughout the winter period, the challenge of five consecutive away games cannot be underestimated.