PREVIEW: ‘An Imp-portant Performance’ Lincoln City (A)

Mansfield Town are all set for their second early kick-off on a Saturday in a row tomorrow as they make the short journey to Lincoln City, a game they need to stage an IMPortant performance and pick up three points.

I still feel that a point against resilient Wycombe is justified, but there are a fair few that disagree, and as such – we need to beat the current conference champions and show them what life in League Two is all about, oh and make up for that unacceptable collapse in the checkatrade trophy a few weeks ago!

I’m a big fan of the Imps management Duo, they have Lincoln well drilled and have a good attitude about them, it’s clear why they’ve been so successful in building a conference winning team, and a team which upset the odds in the FA Cup last season too.

They’ve started this season too on a high, and make no mistake about it – it has little to do with early season luck, the Cowley Brothers will have one eye on back to back promotions.

Against the Imps in the checkatrade, we played a completely different side yes, but with the strength we have – we should not have made those critical mistakes, from the off – Lincoln will remember those and try to enforce them once again.

This is a big reason why we must build on Tuesday and not see that result as a negative which many, sadly, do. It was a clean sheet against a resilient side who are tough to beat when they travel away from home – tomorrow we face another resilient side who have added to their team of champions, a side which haven’t lost at home, if my quick research is correct, since this time last year – a 2-1 loss to Barrow as Paul Cox’s men set their early pace.

The Imps set up to frustrate teams, they set up to tire teams out and to pounce when they’ve done do. They set-up to wind players up, they have an excellent wind up merchant in a certain Matt Rhead remember! We have to deal with that professionally and play with an intensity to match, from start to finish.

I’ve visited Lincoln many times, both as a fan and as a commentator, I’ve NEVER seen a dull game there, they’re always fuelled with fire and passion – have we got the players to do that in the right way? For me, yes, but Steve Evans has to get the selection right – that selection isn’t that of the previous two matches either, a game such as this will need a Paul Digby, an Anderson, a MacDonald – and just maybe a flair player such as Rose and Potter, the latter ran rings around Lincoln the last time around.

​We are at a pivotal stage of the season now, where we don’t just need to beat our “rivals” – but we also need to send a message to League Two and gradually pick up some speed. Where better to start than tomorrow at Lincoln, as old – meets new. COYS!