Michael Skubala has spoken of his pride in what he achieved at Lincoln City, but insists his focus will be firmly on beating the Imps when we visit Ashton Gate.
Our former boss faces City for the first time since leaving for Bristol City in the summer, with Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw now leading the team he took into the Championship. After a 103-point season and a 29-game unbeaten run, his place in our history is assured, although he was keen to put the emphasis on the players when asked about the reunion.
“I’m really proud of what I achieved there. To take a team from when I went in, I think they were 17th in League One, and get them back to the Championship for the first time in 65 years, I’m very proud of that. I’m very proud of the work that I did at Lincoln, but all good things come to an end.
“Is it a special occasion? I think no, not really. It’s about two sets of players who have to go out there and battle. Of course, it will be about myself and coming back because it’s early on in the season. I know the staff and a lot of players, and they know me well.”
There will inevitably be attention on the dugouts, particularly with his two former assistants now sharing responsibility for our Championship campaign. However, Skubala believes the outcome will come down to what happens once the players cross the white line, with the shared history offering neither side any favours.
“But ultimately, football’s always been about the green stuff and two sets of 11 men going out to fight it out. In some senses, when they get out there, they have to make decisions.
“I’m very proud of my time at Lincoln, but now, when we cross that white line, I’ll definitely want to go and beat them, and I’m sure they’re the same. It’ll be an interesting game.”
City arrive on the back of our victory at Preston, where Freddie Draper secured three points at Deepdale. With away wins against both Bolton and Preston already recorded, we have given ourselves something to build on, and those results have come as no surprise to the man who helped put the foundations in place.
There has been considerable change since his departure, with a busy summer bringing new faces into the squad. Skubala acknowledged that his familiarity with Lincoln only stretches so far, even if he can still recognise much of the approach that proved so successful last season.
“I think they’ve signed ten or 11 players, so there are a lot of players in that group I don’t know. There are a lot of staff they’ve brought in that I don’t know. Clubs move on very quickly and change very quickly as well, so they’re a relatively new group.
“I still see a lot of the identity that I put into the team that’s still being played. The continuation of, if you like, the game model that I developed there to get that team out of the league.”
That familiarity also means there is little prospect of Bristol City taking us lightly. Skubala suggested other Championship clubs might underestimate what the Imps bring to the division, but he knows enough about the work behind our promotion to expect a difficult evening.
“I think that’s probably why, to start off with, lots of Championship teams would underestimate them and how well they do what they do. We definitely won’t underestimate them because I know how they work and what they’re trying to achieve, and the nuances around it.
“I think you could underestimate a Lincoln team coming up into the Championship, but the results that they’ve got have not surprised me one little bit. They’re going to be a really tough team to play against. But we’re a good team and we can be a tough team to play against. Hopefully, it’ll be a really good game.”
He also backed the decision to appoint Cohen and Shaw following his departure. The pair were central to last season’s success alongside him, and their promotion offered continuity at a time when the club was already preparing for the considerable challenge of stepping up a division.
“Yeah, it’s a smart move by the club, I think, to keep the continuity there. Continuity not just with the staff and the game model that was built, but also the continuity of the growth with lots of different changes. I think that’s quite a smart move.
“But it’s a different league. It’s a challenge. There’s a different quality of player in this league. It’s a very exciting league with some top, top players, like we saw at the weekend.”
For all the connections between the two coaching teams, Skubala was clear about where his priorities now lie. His task is to take Bristol City forward, and that means trying to halt the momentum his former assistants will hope to carry over from Saturday.
“My focus is now obviously fully with Bristol City, not what other teams are doing.”
There is warmth on both sides ahead of the reunion, with Shaw having spoken about his gratitude for the opportunities Skubala gave him and Cohen last season. That relationship will still be there afterwards, but for the duration of the game, all three will be looking for the same thing: another Championship victory for their team.
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