The Imps go into the Carabao Cup game with West Ham as distinct underdogs, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Our games against the Hammers are few and far between, with the 1982 League Cup clash the most recent meeting between the two sides. On that occasion, the Hammers were unable to beat us at the Bank. In fact, they haven’t won at our place for 66 years. Okay, they’ve only played us twice in that spell, but still…..
Our record against the Hammers isn’t all that bad. We’ve met on 22 occasions, losing 10, drawing six, and winning six. Twice we won at Upton Park, in 1955 and 1956, with the other four victories coming at home.
If we move past their last league visit to the Bank (6-1 to them) and their first visit (4-1 to them), we have a record that just about holds up against one of England’s most respected clubs. Turning them over in the cup would give us our fifth home win against them, but what of the other four? What was the context and story around those matches? Are there any parallels, despite this game taking place seven decades later than our last win?
Well, actually, there are a couple. Want to find out more? Read on.