Lincoln City return to Sincil Bank for the first time since April this weekend, as Portsmouth visit.
The ground has undergone a lot of changes over the summer, with almost a year’s worth of work taking place in 14 weeks. It’ll feel much like Sincil Bank of old, but with the first notable structural changes this century, and a new look fit for the Championship.
It’ll also be the first time the players have stepped out on the turf since walking out to a guard of honour against Wycombe back at the end of April, something that feels like a ‘lifetime ago’ to head coach Chris Cohen.
“The Wycombe game at home feels a lifetime ago,” he said in today’s press conference.
“To get back in front of the supporters, who played such an important role in the season that we had last year, is really important.
“Our home form was extraordinary, and we’re going to need them again this year. Of course, they stick with us through thick and thin, as always, but the atmosphere that they create, which we help with the way that we play and the intent that we play with, is going to be a really important part of us picking up lots of home points.”
City haven’t lost at home in the league since Exeter took a 1-0 win in the dying seconds of our clash early last season, and we’ll need that form going into the new campaign. Sincil Bank will need to be a fortress if we’re to survive, and some fans are saying games like Portsmouth are ones we need to target for three points.
However, Chris feels that every game is there to win, albeit with different approaches.
“I think every game at home is going to be important,” he said.
“Well, every game, as you know, we go into trying to win, but you win in different ways. Portsmouth at home is an opportunity for us to go and take three points, the same as Middlesbrough away. It’s just the way that we go about it might be a little bit different.
“I’ve said it a few times and I’ll keep saying it. At the end of every game, win, lose or draw, we want to put in a performance that the supporters can be proud of. That’s our aim going into it and hopefully that’ll be enough to get us over the line.”
The 12:30 kick-off means we should see the new paint gleaming under the early afternoon sunshine, but fans will be hoping Chris, Tom and the team ensure the shine appears on the pitch just as it does in the stands.
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