Sky Blues set for Lincoln clash
ONLY GOAL ALL SEASON SEPARATES PROMOTION-CHASING LINCOLN FROM SKY BLUES
PLAY-OFF rivals Coventry City and Lincoln go head to head at the Ricoh Arena tonight, both looking to take advantage of their game in hand.
The Sky Blues were due to play the Imps early last month until snow forced the clash to be postponed and rescheduled towards the back end of the campaign.
Danny Cowley’s men are currently level on points with Coventry but a place above due to a one-goal difference – both being on 71 points, three ahead of nearest challenger Mansfield Town in eighth place, who only have two games left. Three points for either City or Lincoln would all but seal their place in the play-offs barring disaster in the last two games.
Here Mark Whiley of LincolnshireLive gives the lowdown on the Imps.
What’s the mood like in the camp in terms of Lincoln’s play-off push?
“It’s pretty buoyant to be honest, especially after Saturday when it looked like things were going to go against them with Mansfield winning and Lincoln drawing with a couple of minutes to go at home to Colchester.
“Lincoln had had a man sent off but they just kept going and got a winner in the fourth minute of added time, so they feel they are pretty much there now. Technically I think they need four points, so a win at Coventry – although I don’t think a draw would be bad for either – would just about do it with two games left.
“Spirits are high and although they didn’t play particularly well on Saturday but they often don’t but somehow manage to grind out a result.”
Was there concern the season would tail off after their Wembley success over Shrewsbury in the Checkatrade Trophy final?
“It was a bit of an anti-climax losing at Port Vale the following week when they did look a little bit jaded. But they were back on it against Wycombe when they should have won. A couple of decisions went against them and they drew and it was a tough game.
“But they are in good shape and have a virtually fully fit squad. Danny Rowe picked up an injury at the weekend but we don’t think he’s too bad. So they have a virtually full strength team and are shaping up well for the playoffs.”
Who are the key men in form at the moment?
“Right-back Neal Eardley has probably been the player of the season but Michael Bostwick has been the key man but he got sent off on Saturday and is unlikely to play at Coventry.
“He can play centre-back or central midfield. He’s been at centre-back most of the second half of the season, although he was in midfield against Wycombe and then back in defence on Saturday.
“They are planning to appeal against it because it was a bit soft, deemed to be last man foul, shoulder to shoulder, and the forward still had quite a way to go to goal as well. But it’s quite a short period to get it overturned and unless something is blatantly wrong they don’t tend to get overturned.
“So he’ll be a big miss because he’s been one of the best players. They could do with two of him really because he’s as good in midfield as he is at the back. He’s good in the air and a good tackler.”
“I’m surprised Eardley wasn’t in Team of the Year because I haven’t seen a better right-back in the division. His crossing ability is fantastic and he’s been really reliable and can slot in anywhere else.
“I reckon he’s too good for this league. He’s out of contract this summer but they’re very confident of getting him on a new deal for next season.”
Who are the ones to watch at the sharp end?
“Matt Rhead and Matt Green are the main two strikers but Ollie Palmer is the third striker who tends to go on with half an hour to go and he was fan-
tastic when he went on at the weekend. “He’s got eight goals, most off the bench, and he was nominated for PFA Player of the Month last month despite the fact he’d only played about 100 minutes from the bench.”
What’s Cowley’s preferred formation and style?
“I think they’ll stick with 4-3-3, which goes into a 4-5-1 if need be, and I think Cowley thinks that gives them a bit more solidity. They are fairly direct although not as long ball as people make out. They tend to get it forward to the front men and then play off them.
“They have got some good technical players, like Lee Frecklington and Rhead is a better player than people give credit to, and play some decent football in the final third. They are quite physical, very strong at set pieces and can mix it up. They are well organised and have a bit of quality about them.”
How do you think the manager will approach the game tactically?
“They will go out to win the game but I do think if it’s 0-0 with 20 minutes to go I am not sure either team will go all out to win because a draw would be decent for both really.”
How many fans are Lincoln likely to bring to the Ricoh?
“They were bringing 4,000 to the game that was postponed but being a Tuesday night there might not be as many. I think they’ve sold almost 3,000 and they can pay on the gate so it could go as high as 4,000.
“They took 4,000 to Notts County so I imagine this will be one of the biggest followings of the season. They get behind them well and the Wembley experience, when they had 27,000 fans there – more than we ever thought – might have brought a few more out of the woodwork.”
Who do they want in the play-offs?
“The fans want Notts County because it’s up the road and I think people fancy us to beat them. No-one wants Exeter, for obvious reasons, although I think they might make third now.”