Cowley’s fighting talk fires Lincoln

Secondleg: Thurs 7 .45pm, St James Park

FOR all their success over the last year, Lincoln have drawn criticism from managers and pundits for their style of play. More barbs came their way after they drew 0-0 with Exeter in the first leg of their League Two play-off semifinal on Saturday at Sincil Bank. ‘Unashamedly direct,’ was how they were described during Sky Sports’ live broadcast of the game. The criticism left Lincoln manager Danny Cowley seething in his post-match press conference. ‘We are what we are,’ Cowley said. ‘I don’t care what people say about us technically and tactically to be honest, but don’t ever criticise our fight and our togetherness because it’s as good as anyone’s without a doubt. As good as anyone’s. ‘You’ve got to fight. If you want to do something in your life, if you want to achieve something then you’ve got to make it happen.’ Attention was also focused on burly striker Matt Rhead. Rhead had Lincoln’s best chance of the game when his header rebounded off the crossbar. Afterwards he echoed his manager’s words about teams having to ‘kill us to beat us’. He said: ‘The lads work for each other and we’re a proper tight-knit team and hopefully we’ll be on the right side of the result.’ Paul Tisdale’s Exeter feel they have the advantage with the second leg of the tie being at home. He said: ‘It will be a very different game at St James Park on Thursday. ‘I think they’ll fancy themselves and so will we.’