Lincoln City and sides at the bottom of the table; it’s usually a recipe for disaster.
I remember Southend a couple of years ago, and Gillingham at home. There was Rochdale in the 2020/21 season as well, all teams we ‘should’ have beaten, but ended up taking nothing from the game.
However, this Lincoln City has been a bit different. Of the sides in the bottom four (Northampton not being one of them), we have lost just once (Rotherham) and have an overall record of played six, won three, drawn two and lost one. That’s the current bottom four as well, not teams we played while they were bottom four.
Another big difference in the lights at the Bank. There’s something about a night game that adds spice, although I recall us losing to a soon-to-be-relegated Doncaster Rovers a few years ago. Still, Michael Skubala said that he is a big fan of evening matches yesterday.
“I love it under lights. I think the lads love it under lights as well,” he said in his pre-match interview.
“And it’s great to hear there’s going to be another hopefully bumper crowd there because I think we’re going to need them. I’m truly convinced that every game in this league is very very tough.”
“Tough for different reasons. And we’re going to need them. keep saying it. We’re going to need the fans. We’re going to need the supporters. And we want this place to be a really tough place for any team to come.”
“It’s going to be brilliant again to go under the lights. But it’s going to be a tough game.”
On paper, it might not appear to be all that tough. Having been infinitely better than one of the best teams in the division at the weekend, and us boasting one of the best home records, this one does look like a banker.
That’s certainly not how Michael and the coaching staff see in.
“In some ways, these games can be harder. These games can be tougher than Bolton, can be tougher than going away to what you think a big team because everyone can underestimate such a team.”
“And I think that’s where it’s dangerous. They’re a really good side. They’re unbeaten in four. They’re a hard team to play against and they’ve got some really good players that can hurt you.”
“So, we’ve just got to follow our right processes. We’ll do the same as we always do and that’s why it is just another three points Saturday to Northampton and then into next Saturday.”
“That’s why it has to be like that. But this is no doubt going to be a very very tough game for us.”
The game does seemingly present a good opportunity to at least protect our lead in second place. Bolton have a tough trip to on their calendar, a ground they haven’t won on since being a Championship side in 2018. Stockport (fourth) meet Bradford City (fifth), which is almost a win/win for the Imps, while above us, the relentless Cardiff City should take three points from Wimbledon.
It promises to be another big night in our 65-year hunt for Championship football.
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