Michael Skubala believes his Lincoln City side need to be “focused” and “aggressive”, as they ready to face Wigan Athletic on Saturday, April 13.
Speaking to LincSport, he said: “They have some really good personal that can hurt you. They play a little bit different to other teams. They rotate a lot, and move a lot, a bit more like Reading, and a bit more than some other teams in this league.”
“We’ve got to be really focused and really aggressive with how we want to play, and take it to them,” he added.
Just four games to go:
The Imps played out a goalless draw with Wigan in December, but the City head coach believes his team are better placed to face the same opposition now.
He said: “It was a tough game, they’re a good team. We have more personal back then we did before, we have different personal in different places, so I think we’re a bit like a different team. But, also they’re a good team and we can’t come off the gas.”
With just four games remaining in the season, Lincoln sit in seventh spot of the SkyBet League One table. They’re just two points off the play-offs and sixth placed Oxford United, who they face next week.
Skubala, speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, noted that Danny Mandriou is back in training, while midfielder Ted Bishop is “touch and go” for the weekend after feeling his hamstring during the week.
Unbeaten run a motivator:
The Imps boss believes his team’s on-going 16 game unbeaten streak is a factor motivation, as the season draws closer to a conclusion.
He said: “If you ask us if we can get to the play-offs and lose a game, then we’ll take that. The unbeaten run is a motivation, but more so, it’s about getting another three points and going to the next one. If we keep picking up three points, then we’ll get that sixth spot and that’s the most important thing for us.”
Spreading the goals around:
Youngster Jovon Makama scored the last-gasp winner against Leyton Orient on Good Friday, while contemporary Freddie Draper netted Lincoln’s only goal of their draw against Reading.
“I really like all goals coming from everywhere, because I think you’re not just relying on one person. But, then we’ve got Joe Taylor, who is on nine goals at the moment, so we have got a goalscorer and we’re chipping in all over the pitch with goals, so it takes the pressure off one person to score,” Skubala said.
LNER Stadium boost:
The Imps return home after two consecutive away games. The Easter Monday win at Carlisle United was followed by the 1-1 draw at Reading, while Lincoln have just two home games remaining this term.
City are aiming for a seventh home clean sheet in a row, to go alongside what would be a tenth home win in succession if they can claim all three points against Shaun Maloney’s men.
Skubala said: “When that place is noisy and rocking, the stadium is going, they’re pushing the team, it’s a fantastic environment. And the lads feel it, it’s been great so far and hopefully we can keep doing the business for them.”
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