Lincoln City manager Gary Simpson has admitted that Saturday’s opponents Chester have picked up since new manager Steve Burr came in last month.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he admitted that the strugglers have improved as a team.

Simpson attended their 2-1 victory over Halifax last Thursday and witnessed them score a last-gasp winner to secure all three points.

“They played well on the night and deserved to win. He [Burr] has managed to bring four or five in and they’ve certainly improved from when we drew 3-3 with them and I think we have as well,” he said.

Gary Simpson speaking at this morning's press conference. Photo: Paul Battison

The Imps go into the match having won three of their last four matches, and despite losing three of their last four, Chester have moved out of the relegation zone.

The Blues have used the loan market to bring in several new signings and Simpson says the additions have had a positive impact on the team.

“They’ve got the lad from Forest Green [Matt Taylor], two in from Chesterfield [Aaron Chapman and Matthew Brown], a couple in from Leeds [Ross Killock and Lewis and Nathan Turner] and they’ve improved. Bondy [Andrew Bond] has gone in as well,” he added.

He continued: “I’m expecting a tough game. We’re at home and we want to be on the front foot and we want to go and win the match.”

Lincoln City currently sit in 14th place in the Skrill Premier and are eleven points away from both the play-off places and the relegation zone. Their manager explained winning games will be the way forward.

He added: “That’s all you can do. Pick up points and win games. There’s no magic formulas, you’ve just got to win football matches and put the points on the board.

“Since the turn of the year we’ve won four, drawn three and lost two [in the league]. I’ll take that again in the next nine matches and see where that takes us.”

Also in attendance was on-loan defender Thierry Audel. Like his manager, the Frenchman admitted Chester will be no pushover.

“It’s a good challenge and this is what I came for as well. I really hope we get the three points, but we know it will be a hard game and from today we’ll work hard and keep focused on the game,” he said.

The game kicks off at three o’clock at the Gelder Group Sincil Bank Stadium.