Speaking ahead of Lincoln City’s trip to Gateshead, manager Gary Simpson was in positive mood, saying the team’s focus was on “trying to keep that momentum going.”

Lincoln travel to Gateshead with seven points from their last four games, and Simpson said of the squad, “We’ve got the players who I think on the day are a match for anybody.”

Lincoln play Gateshead on Saturday 22nd March
Lincoln play Gateshead on Saturday 22nd March

Speaking about Gateshead manager Gary Mills, Simpson praised his opponent, saying “He’s done a great job since he’s gone in there. They keep the ball very well, they’re at home and we know it’s going to be difficult.

“I think it’s important that we defend as a team and I think it’s important that we try to score as a team.”

After back to back victories against Braintree last week, Lincoln have moved closer to the play-offs than they are to the relegation zone, prompting questions about whether he believes his team should be considering a top five spot.

“I said at the start I thought the squad was half-decent,” said Simpson. “Once we had got them fit and we added one or two to them, they’ve shown what they can do.”

“We’re not really thinking about play-offs. I thought at the start of the season the squad’s level was mid-table and pushing for a play-off place if we were a bit lucky, and my views haven’t changed on that to be fair.

“You do think, if we’d have just done that there or held onto that, with a little bit more luck at times we might have been right in the mix.

“At the minute the lads have done tremendously.”

Lincoln kick-off against Gateshead on Saturday at 15:00.

By Max Mclean

My name's Max, and I enjoy playing, watching, listening to, reading about and writing about sport.