Lincoln City manager Gary Simpson implied his team are under pressure going into Saturday’s match with Hyde.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference he explained that the Imps are expected to win at the league’s bottom club.
His team go into the game having lost 2-1 to Nuneaton Town on Tuesday night at the Gelder Group Sincil Bank Stadium.
He said: “We didn’t start off well and on top of that they kept going. The last 20 minutes was the best period of the game when they were hanging on a bit and just clearing it anywhere.
“The way they set up, the way they are and the players they’ve got probably suited them more than it suited us. Previously teams have changed their shape to play against us, but we actually changed our shape to play against them.”
Simpson explained that he did not know why his team had been defeated and while he described their performance as “flat”, he refused to criticise his player’s work ethic.
“They might not be the best but they don’t not try. Probably the best period of the [Nuneaton] game where we were most on top was the last 20 minutes. It shows they’re keeping on going but everybody gets frustrated, none more so than me, Grant [Brown] and Moysey [Chris Moyses],” he continued.
Charlee Adams and Thierry Audel were the main arrivals on transfer deadline day, but the Imps boss admitted he was still looking to add to his squad.
“I’m looking in case I lose one or two. I’m still making enquiries. I had a lad given to me the other day and I’ve been ringing up about another one. If any of the loan players are recalled then we might be short. We’re looking all the time, we’re looking because we want to be better,” he explained.
Saturday’s opponents Hyde have only won once all season in the league and would need a spectacular run of results to get them out of trouble. However, Simpson was respectful towards them.
He added: “Things happen in games. They’ve had a blank week, we’ve had a game and looked flat so who knows? But certainly we’re going to set up in a positive manner to try and go on and win the game so what happens on the day happens. We approach every game in a positive manner and it’ll be no different to any other game we approach.
“They’re not bad going forward and they always try to play football. I think [Scott] Spencer’s scored quite a few goals for them but they’ve had a tough season, second season syndrome if you like, that’s caught them out a little bit. Anything can happen on the day.”
Lincoln City’s match with Hyde kicks off at three o’clock at Ewen Fields on Saturday, February 8th.