Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley says his side will need everyone in the city to get behind them during tonight’s FA Cup second round tie against Oldham Athletic at Sincil Bank.
Despite being fourteen games unbeaten in all competitions, the Imps will be the underdogs in tonight’s encounter against an Oldham team who play two divisions higher in League One.
“I think it’s a great game for the football club and the city,” Cowley said. “It’s an opportunity for everybody in Lincoln to show what a fantastic football club this is and how proud we all are to be part of it.
“I think maybe some people in English football have forgotten about Lincoln City and I think maybe over the last five years where we’ve been out of the football league they’ve forgotten what a great club this is.
“I really believe this is a great opportunity for us just to give everybody a gentle reminder that this is a big football club and that we’re on our way back,” he continued.
“We can’t just do that as a management group and players. I think we’ve all got a responsibility. Everybody in Lincoln has a responsibility to get behind the boys and come and support and show what a fantastic football club this is.”
Oldham have struggled so far this season and sit 23rd in League One but Cowley thinks they’ll still be tough opponents.
“They’re a good team,” he insisted. “They’re not conceding goals and have definitely turned a corner in recent games.
“We’re going to need a really big performance if we’re going to be successful.
“You don’t wake up every morning knowing that you can do something that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. We have that opportunity and if we can be successful and beat Oldham then it’ll be something that we’ll all remember and be proud of.”
The draw for the third round takes place ahead of tonight’s encounter meaning Lincoln and Oldham could go into the match this evening knowing a big Premier League side awaits them in the next round.
And Cowley admitted that the draw taking place before kick–off is something he’s never experienced before but it’s a situation which he and assistant Nicky Cowley will try and manage.
“I don’t think we’re going to be able to keep it from the players but we’re a group that always lives in the moment,” explained Cowley.
“We’re always focusing on what’s in front of us. We never try and get too ahead of ourselves so we’ll use those values and principles in these circumstances.”
Cowley has been forced into altering his defence for tonight’s match with veteran defender Jamie McCombe set to make his first appearance since August.
Centre-back Sean Raggett, who has impressed since arriving from Dover in the summer, is suspended after being sent-off against Wrexham last week while Callum Howe is ineligible after playing for Southport in an earlier round of the cup.
However, Cowley thinks McCombe is more than capable of standing in.
“He’ll certainly bring an awful lot of experience and is totally clear on how we’re trying to play,” Cowley said.
“He’s been coaching our back four in terms of their organisation and how we’re trying to play and therefore he knows it better than anyone.”
So can Lincoln City pull off a cup upset tonight and reach the third round? Danny Cowley certainly thinks so.
“We’ve got this refuse to lose attitude and want to keep this run going,” he insisted.
“We’ve got a really testing period coming up now so we know it’s not going to be easy. But we know anything worth achieving never comes easy.”