Following back to back draws against Nuneaton and Tamworth, Lincoln City boss Gary Simpson is expecting Saturday’s opponents Aldershot to pose a different kind of threat to what the Imps have recently faced.
“Against Tamworth we had to stand up physically. Saturday will be a different kind of game as they’ve got pace and players who can take you on, and they can play a bit more open at times. Yes they might sit in, but they will try and hit you on the break with the pace that they’ve got.”
“Every game chucks something different up. I think the league as a whole has improved this year compared to last year. Apart from Cambridge, who are running away with it a bit, everybody else is one win away from being right in the mix. Everything is tight and I think it’s a better league.”
On the subject of player availability, striker Ben Tomlinson is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, and Simpson challenged his other strikers to make the most of the opportunity.
“That’s Tommo. I can’t change him and I wouldn’t want to change him. He gives everything that he’s got and he’s a winner, and everybody appreciates him within the club. He’ll be a big loss, but as one door closes another opens for somebody else, so it’s up to the others to take their chance.
Simpson however ruled out the recall of striker Conner Robinson, who is currently on loan at Gainsborough Trinity.
“At the moment we think its best that he’s playing. If we pick up an injury or two then it’s something which we might look at. We’re not desperate to get him back and not play him. We can see the benefit of him playing on a Saturday. He looks a lot sharper and more confident now, and he’s coming along nicely.”
Joining Simpson in today’s press conference were captain Nat Brown and midfielder Luke Foster, with the former eager to point out that despite the last couple of results, the squad is in high spirits.
“There’s a good atmosphere around the club. The lads are in the same spirits as last time [during Brown and Simpson’s first spell at the club], they’re younger and experience will come, and we want to bring back the good times. The crowd has been excellent all season, it feels like a big club and it is a big club, so it’s great.”
Foster meanwhile was keen to ensure that despite the dropped points in recent games, heads don’t begin to drop.
“It’s frustrating because we all know that we should’ve won the other night, but there’s no point dwelling on it now, we’ve just got to make sure that it doesn’t keep happening. Dropping one point or two points adds up over the season, it’s going to backfire, so we’ve got to get it sorted pretty quickly.”
Lincoln face recently relegated Aldershot at Sincil Bank on Saturday 12th October.