Lincoln City make the trip down the M5 to face Devon side Exeter City tomorrow, looking for a first win at St James Park since August 2018.
That win came in our 2018/19 title-winning season, and we go back to face the Grecians once again embroiled in a title battle. This time, we’re on the back of 18 League One matches unbeaten, a run that tops Michael Skubala’s previous best, 16, set in 2023/24.
If we avoid defeat in Devon, it will match a club-record run of 19 matches unbeaten in the league, set in League Two back in 2018/19. In both of those long runs, City faced Exeter.
When quizzed about the game in his pre-match press conference, new Exeter City manager Matt Taylor was asked about the challenge, with the interviewer suggesting the game looked tough on paper.
“It’s a good job football’s not played on paper,” replied Taylor, who replaced interim boss Dan Green on a short term deal until the end of the season six days ago.
“Two teams going at it, we’re the home team, we want to take the game to our position. We respect where they are, we respect what they did at the weekend.
“But this is our home patch and we’ll be looking to force the issue, so to speak, and put in a positive display. We’ll need to be at our best or as close to our best as we possibly can be just to understand the opposition and to withstand certain moments of the game which they’re so good at and so forceful with.
“But we have to find a way of hurting the opposition goal and the goalkeeper and the back line and the box as much as we possibly can. And I expect us to do that tomorrow.”
That certainly does look tough on paper and on grass. No team has created more than 1 xG against us since Luton Town back in January, and with a relatively clean bill of health, we’ll be able to field as close to a full side as normal against Exeter.
They could have a huge impact on the title race, as Cardiff City visit them on Saturday, another big game in which they’ll be underdogs. However, Taylor suggested that there won’t be a change in their approach for the big two visiting in consecutive matches.
“Just because we’re playing the top two in the next two games, it doesn’t change our approach.
“We respect where they are and they’re there for a reason and the success they’ve had. But I do think that it will add a little bit in terms of the feel of the game. Both teams will come well supported. There’ll be a noisy and a busy away end. I always think that brings the best out of our home fans.
“And when there’s that atmosphere like we expect there to be for the next two games, certainly tomorrow night, under the lights, a quick game, physical game, a game with something on it, a lot riding on it, I think we can perform at our best.”
With no wins in nine, and only one home win since the 10-1 rout against Manchester City, Exeter do need to pick up the pace if they’re to avoid being in the relegation battle in April. Personally, I hope they do just that, starting this weekend against Cardiff City, and not a moment before.
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