Burton’s style makes them so tough to face, says Imps boss
LINCOLN City manager Michael Appleton says the way Burton Albion play gives them a chance to win any match.
The Imps boss looks like he has his team emerging from a big blip in their League One promotion chase ahead of their visit to the Pirelli Stadium tomorrow night (7pm).
Lincoln have now won their last two matches, ending a seven-match winless run.
When they beat Burton 5-1 at Sincil Bank on Boxing Day, they were shaping up as the best team in the division, leading it by three points and on a run of eight wins from 11 games.
They have found things tougher since then and had won only three of 15 games until the most recent two.
Appleton knows the Brewers will be a different proposition tomorrow.
“They’ve been doing ever so well. Jimmy (Floyd Hasselbaink) has done great since he’s gone in there. He’s given them a big lift,” Appleton told the Lincolnshire Echo.
“They play on the front foot and are quite aggressive in how they play.
“I think if you do that, you give yourself a chance of winning, even if you’re not playing particularly well.
“They’re on a good run and they’ve beaten some decent sides over the last two months. It’s going to be a tough, tough game.”
Lincoln won 1-0 away to relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers on Saturday, Appleton’s largely young side emerging from a bruising battle which saw Bristol’s Ed Upson sent off after a melee broke out between the teams.
“When I looked at the start of the game, I’m not sure what the average age was, but it was very low,” said Appleton.
“For us to come through that sort of experience – the likes of Brennan Johnson, Morgan Rogers, Callum Morton and the two young centrehalves (Lewis Montsma and TJ Eyoma) – it will do them the world of good.
“It was a great game to win but it definitely wasn’t a great game to watch.
“That’s what you need to do if you’re going to have success, you’re going to have to win certain games.
“It’s definitely one of the best results of the season but, in terms of performances, it was arguably one of our worst. We had to be resolute and I thought we were resolute as a group.
“We came through a stern test and passed with flying colours.”
Appleton felt experienced midfielder Jorge Grant might have been able to steer the team through that test better but he was out injured.
He looks likely to be fit enough to return to the squad tomorrow.
But two other experienced players, midfielder Liam Bridcutt and striker Tom Hopper, are unlikely to be back in time.
“They are getting closer. They, possibly, could be ready for the final week of the season, which could give us a real big boost,” added Appleton.