RECENT HISTORY GIVES IMPS A CHANCE

PAUL Tisdale’s Exeter will arguably be the happier of the two sides going into Thursday’s crucial second leg at St James’ Park, after the Imps huffed and puffed but failed to gain an upper hand at Sincil Bank in this stalemate.

In a proverbial game of two halves, the visitors did have the better of the few early exchanges but highly-rated boss Danny Cowley may live to rue a slew of missed opportunities as his side went close on three occasions just after the break.

Cowley’s men certainly have it all to do in Devon, but they have showed time and time again over the last two seasons that they can perform when the stakes are high.

They haved gained promotion from the National League, won the Checkatrade Trophy, reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and made the League Two play-offs in that time, so you have to believe Cowley when he warns not to write off the Imps.

Lincoln will also be buoyed by the fact that five of the last eight sides to finish seventh in League Two have gone on to win promotion via the play-offs.