Lincoln City face Huddersfield Town this weekend, with three points the aim, as always.
That’s an aim we’ve had for the last 20 fixtures in the league, and one we have met 16 times. In fact, in that period, only one side has beaten us: Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy. They’re also one of the only sides to have taken a point of us since we started being the best team in the division.
Striker Rob Street has been a key component of that run, playing wide as well as through the middle. He’s now finishing this season exactly how he finished last season: scoring goals in a side fighting for a place in the division above. He knows the task in hand this evening is one that could pose City some problems.
“They’re a good team,” he said in he pre-match interview. “We’ve played them a few times already this season, and they are a very good outfit with good players all over the pitch.
“It’s going to be a tough game, but as we’ve shown over the last sort of 20-game run we’ve had, we can go and beat anyone. Hopefully we’ll be at it again and ready to go.”
The truth is, every week, we say teams are good. Some are (Bolton, Stockport). Some should be, but aren’t (Blackpool) and some, well, some just aren’t (Northampton). Huddersfield will be, and looking ahead, Rotherham, Doncaster, Wimbledon and Reading should be as well.
“I don’t think there’s any lame ducks at this stage of the season,” added Street, who has four goals in his last six outings.
“Every team has something to play for. The league is so tight. You look at the top of the table, the mid-table pushing into the playoffs, and the bottom of the table as well.
“Everyone is fighting for something at this stage of the season. So it’s good. There are good games all around the league every single week. It’s an exciting time of the year and hopefully we can go and have a good one.”
City have certainly had more ‘good ones’ than not over the last few months, and we already lead the form table for March, with Michael Skubala hunting a fourth Manager of the Month. If he were to win three in a row, it would be a post-2004 record for the league as well.
What is it that is contributing to the outrageous run the Imps have been on? Street has a clear idea.
“I think the mentality of the group at the moment and the players in the building,” he said. “We go into every game wanting to win it.
“It had been a while since we conceded a goal, but as soon as we conceded that goal it was right, let’s get back on the saddle and go and score at the other end.
“I think the subs made a massive difference when they came on. All five that came on really changed the game and swung the momentum back in our favour. So credit to them and it’s what we’ve got to keep doing now.
“Everyone has got to contribute.”
Indeed, they do, and even as the squad has evolved and players have been injured, others have stepped up. Street, more than most, demonstrates that, having played out wide, spent time on the bench (coming off it four times in 36 matches), and now finds himself picking up the mantle of starting number nine for a Championship hopeful and looking every inch the part.
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