With four games unbeaten and ten points from a possible 12, Gary Simpson met the press in good spirits ahead of this weekend’s game against league leaders Kidderminster.
The Harriers sit atop the Blue Square Premier League summit, with 84 points, whilst the Imps are mid-table, in 16th place with 50 points, just 4 points above 21st placed Stockport, who are struggling in the relegation zone.
Simpson admitted that facing the league leaders, while they are in such good form is a daunting task: “Everybody will be expecting Kidderminster to beat us, being top of the table. But we have to go there and think we can do it.
“They started the season very poorly, but it’s hard to win football matches when you don’t have any fit players. Now that they have a full squad, they’ve put together some really good form.”
With the Harriers flying high though Simpson laid the gauntlet down to his players: “I’ve challenged the team to stay unbeaten and we’ve seen in recent weeks, with some of the performances that we’ve put in, that we are more than a match for anybody in the division.”
On the injury front, Simpson noted that recent absentee Dan Gray “will struggle to make tomorrow”. The Lincoln City manager also added that a few other players, whom he refused to name, had picked up knocks and were being monitored.
With the Imps looking more secure in the Blue Square Premier League, after their recent good run of form the subject of Simpson’s long-term future was mentioned: “I didn’t apply for this job, they came to me. If we get to the end of this two months, I’ll sit down with the chairman.”
Simpson also added how it had been great to see so many fans coming to games lately and that they had been a big part in the clubs upturned fortunes: “Last time I was at the club the fans were fantastic and, to be fair to them, they have been unbelievable this time round.”
Lincoln City play Kidderminster on Saturday, April 6th, 2013 at Aggborough Stadium. The kick-off is 3pm.