It’s not November the fifth but stand by for fireworks. Yes, Joey’s in town.

He’s good box office alright, Joey Barton. Not for Fleetwood who I see are only propped up from being the worst supported side in league one by perpetual Cinderella’s, Accrington Stanley, but he seems to have the knack of girding everyone else’s loins if only to come along and shout at him.

Fleetwood nevertheless seem to have plenty of buying power to produce a fine side who are more than holding their own in the division this term so far. He’s been complimentary too about City but like another manager of a team who play lovely football but can’t get the punters through the door, Mark Cooper at Forest Green Rovers, he can’t resist the temptation of having a dig at Danny Cowley this time making the observation that the reason Cowley hasn’t moved on to a bigger club is his style of football.

Therein lies the hope that maybe he hasn’t done his research too thoroughly otherwise he would know the Imps are playing in a totally different way now they are progressing up the leagues. Another “we know what to expect from Lincoln” shot in the dark?

Barton has shown in the past that he won’t let the truth get in the way of a good story, quite what he was going on about in his complaints over our signing of Cian Bolger I really wouldn’t know and now he takes issue over the capture of Callum Connolly implying that it was City’s financial muscle that had prised the youngster away from him and into the Sincil Bank fold, no doubt to the players loss. Yes it’s going to be a hot afternoon, whatever the weather.

Amidst all the excitement and good performances against MK Dons, Doncaster Rovers and Everton we do have to recognise that City have lost three on the trot, for the first time under Cowley. Even allowing for the fact that ninety nine times out of a hundred Everton are going to beat Lincoln City the Imps do need to get back to winning ways against Fleetwood Town this afternoon at Sincil Bank. If that’s not going to get the numbers down to the stadium this afternoon and ramp up the volume I don’t know what will.