The Nationwide football league season for 2003/04 starts tomorrow, with United making the difficult trip to Lincoln for a tasty opening clash. United have only lost once in the last nine games against the Imps, and did the double over them last season, but it was Lincoln who pipped Oxford to a play-off spot with just four minutes of the season remaining.

Both teams have gone through changes over the Summer, with United bringing in no fewer than seven new players, including Jon Ashton on loan from Leicester. Ashton is likely to make his debut at Sincil Bank tomorrow in place of Paul McCarthy, another new signing, who has an injury. Dave Waterman will also be missing from the defence after picking up a knock in the very first pre-season friendly against Walsall.

Almost certain to be making their debuts for United tomorrow are midfielders Derek Townsley and Paul Wanless and striker Julian Alsop. Danny Brown may also be making his first real appearance in a Yellow shirt tomorrow, which could mean that local lads Dean Whitehead and ROS Chris Hackett have to make do with sitting on the bench. James Hunt is suspended for three games after being sent off at Scunthorpe last season.

Up front Andy Scott is injured, as are Lee Steele and Jamie Brooks, and so the most likely partner for Alsop is Steve Basham, although another new signing, Mark Rawle, might well be chosen instead, meaning United could have as many as six new players on show.

Lincoln also have their fair share of injury problems, although the 11’3″ Ben Futcher isn’t one of them. Lincoln’s pitch has been relaid over the Summer, so it is unlikely to resemble Blackpool beach, despite the large number of donkeys on show. What, with pre-season optimism not totally dissipated just yet, Rage Online is uncharacteristically going to start off the new season with a positive prediction. If United don’t win (we reckon it will be 2-0) then we’re going to return to our customary misery-guts predictions quicker than a Matt Bound hoof.