We face Birmingham City tomorrow, knowing that a win would be our first against them since 1911.
Our 4-1 victory last weekend has left us with some difficult selection decisions, particularly with a trip to Watford following on Tuesday.
What does the strongest Imps XI look like? There are players I’d leave out who did very little wrong against Burnley, but we’ve got options and a busy week ahead, so this is how I’d use them.
I’ve gone with a 4-2-3-1, similar to last weekend, as we seem to be moving away from a back three at present.
Goalkeeper: George Wickens
George Wickens starts, of course, and tomorrow should bring up his 100th appearance for the Imps. He’s had a decent season, commands his box and goes into this one on the back of that penalty save against Burnley.
I liked the way he came across in the press conference this week as well. He carries himself well, seems a really likeable bloke and has given us plenty of moments for the highlight reel already.
Right-back: Andrei Coubiș
Andrei Coubiș stays at right-back for me. He’s technically very good, big, powerful and offers us an outlet, while those long throws are a considerable weapon, provided he keeps his feet on the ground.
Birmingham will be a much tougher proposition than Burnley were, and we might need one moment to turn the game our way. Coubiș looks capable of providing that, either by creating something for somebody else or getting on the end of a chance himself. Daniel Oyegoke is unfortunate, but moving to a back four leaves us with some difficult choices.
Centre-backs: Deji Elerewe and Sonny Bradley
Deji Elerewe and Sonny Bradley are two of the first names on my team sheet. if that is possible. Tom Hamer and Ryley Towler are capable footballers, but these two have made it incredibly difficult for anybody else to get into the side.
I keep coming back to the value of a settled defence. We saw it when Mark Kennedy followed Michael Appleton: whatever you thought of our attacking intent, having a defensive unit that knew each other helped make us difficult to beat. Your goalkeeper benefits from knowing who will be in front of him, and defenders learn how to cover for each other as that understanding develops.
That is why I’d keep this partnership together. Over a season, a team begins to take shape, and these two have established themselves at the heart of ours.
Left-back: Adam Reach
Adam Reach gets the nod at left-back. Callum Elder is a perfectly good option, but Reach still plays like somebody several years younger, and with a full week between matches, I’d be happy to start him again.
There is an argument for using Elder when we have two games in quick succession, and that could come into the thinking for Watford. For tomorrow, though, Reach keeps his place.
Central midfield: Yunus Konak and Ivan Varfolomeev
Yunus Emre Konak keeps his place after an excellent performance against Burnley, with Ivan Varfolomeev coming in alongside him for Conor McGrandles. Leaving McGrandles out might raise a few eyebrows, because I thought he played really well last weekend.
After Millwall, I felt Konak and Varfolomeev had done enough to earn their shirts. McGrandles came back in and showed his quality last weekend, and I thought his player-rater score was a little harsh. I suspect his red card at West Ham was still influencing some people’s thinking, because his performance against Burnley deserved credit.
My reasoning comes back to bookings. Both McGrandles and Ben House are a booking away from suspension, and I’d be reluctant to risk losing both for Tuesday. They are important parts of our spine, so leaving McGrandles out gives us some protection: if House gets booked tomorrow, we’d still have McGrandles available at Watford.
There is a strong case for Konak on his performances alone, too. I thought he was excellent against Burnley and could easily have been in the man-of-the-match conversation. He looks a cut above, and I’d like to see him alongside Varfolomeev again.
Out wide: Dom Jefferies
Dom Jefferies keeps his place after one of his best games in a Lincoln shirt. I thought he was outstanding against Burnley, and while some people weren’t particularly impressed with his first half, there were clever moments in there, including the backheel against Kyle Walker that won us a throw.
His goal showed real technique, and that was important for me. I’ve sometimes wondered whether he has that extra bit of quality to make the jump from League One to the Championship, but Saturday gave us evidence that he does. There is something there to work with, and he earned another start.
His versatility deserves credit as well. We can use him centrally, out wide or at wing-back, and sometimes that can leave a player stuck on the bench because he provides cover everywhere. Jefferies is getting opportunities in different positions and making the most of them, which is exactly what you want to see.
Out wide: Chiedozie Ogbene
Chiedozie Ogbene would come in for Reeco Hackett. That is a decision about legs, minutes and the options available across the coming week, because Hackett hasn’t done a great deal wrong and delivered some really good balls against Burnley.
Ogbene was full of running, pace and power when he started against West Ham, and I’d like to see us use that at home. Get him running at Birmingham and see what he can do, with Hackett available to come on and Tuesday’s game also in the thinking.
You could make the same argument for starting Hackett tomorrow and Ogbene at Watford. I’d just lean towards giving Ogbene this one, particularly as Birmingham will present a different challenge from the one Burnley offered.
Deep striker: Ben House
House plays behind the striker for me. There is the booking situation to consider, but my midfield selection gives us some cover for that, and I like what he brings to this role.
Jack Moylan was a very good footballer who gave us some wonderful memories, but his departure has allowed us to use House here with another striker ahead of him. Sometimes a team finds a better balance as it evolves, and I think this arrangement suits the way we want to play. Tendayi Darikwa’s injury may have had a similar effect, with Andrei Coubiș beginning to make the right-back position his own despite not being signed as his replacement. Had Darikwa not been injured, he’d be a key part of the side, but the blow suffered losing him has almost allowed the team to evolve.
I wonder if Moylan’s sale has had the same effect here?
Striker: Freddie Draper
Draper would be my number nine. Ladefoged got his goals last weekend, is becoming a favourite and will be a massive player for us, but I’d be looking to start one tomorrow and the other on Tuesday.
I would love to see Draper get the chance to bully Birmingham’s defenders. Christoph Klarer was dominant against our forwards when we met them in League One, and their defenders will expect a physical battle at Sincil Bank. Draper brings energy, aggression and a willingness to keep fighting for everything, while also offering runs in behind.
We’ve seen him make life miserable for defenders against the likes of Bradford City, Northampton Town and Luton Town. I’d give him 60 or 65 minutes, then look at bringing Ladefoged on to offer a fresh threat, with the hope he could make the sort of impact he managed against Southampton.
It is a difficult call after two goals, but having both available gives us a chance to share that workload across the week. I’d start with Draper tomorrow and keep Ladefoged ready to make his mark from the bench.
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