Michael Appleton took stock of recent progress and discussed his hopes for the side over the next few weeks; ahead of the home fixture versus Shrewsbury Town this weekend.
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Wigan Game: There was lots on the game last Tuesday, for both sides. Wigan would have gone to the top of the league with a victory and the Imps were particularly looking to build and back up the previous performance at Sheffield Wednesday, where MA felt the side had deserved a victory.
“Right from the first minute, I thought we stamped our authority on the game and put in a really good performance”
MA believed the outcome of the match was a clear sign that the players could cope with testing and tough times whilst still being able to put in a performance against any team they come up against.
“From a character point of view they’ve had to show a lot of character, a lot of personality, on and off the pitch. When I’ve asked them questions they’ve come up with the right answers”.
Shrewsbury Town: Inwardly MA had been jumping for joy after the Wigan game but he had made it very clear that the mindset had to immediately turn to the Shrewsbury game.
“Tomorrow’s game is probably bigger than Tuesday because the one thing we haven’t done this season is back-to-back wins. I’m aware of that, the players are aware of that. We want to do it and we’re keen to do it”.
Shrewsbury are coming to the LNER stadium, delighted and up for it off the back of a 4-1 victory against Cambridge United. MA remembers last year that they scored an early goal following a Lincoln error and then defended their goal extremely well for about 80 minutes. The Imps will have to really concentrate on putting their defence under pressure without allowing them to counter-attack or transition, using the pace Shrewsbury possess in their team.
“It’s about what we do tomorrow. If the players are as concentrated, focussed, and driven about the game as what myself and the staff are, we’ll be fine tomorrow”.
Progression and Aims: MA sees several areas of development when working with young players. Throughout the teens and early twenties, the players continue to learn technically and tactically. More than that though they have to develop as people as well, whether that is being polite or doing things off the pitch, or being a good person. That side in itself can be easy, but then they have to win football matches simultaneously which when everything is put together can make it difficult.
“For us to do what we did last season was great and enjoyable. I think it would be even more enjoyable with this group to a degree because we’ve had a challenging start…..we’ve had a lot thrown up against us in the early part of the season with injuries and stuff. So for us to be able to combat that, play well, play good football, and win games would be really pleasing”.
The Sunderland game may well be postponed (International Call ups) so MA is targeting a victory versus the Shrews, getting into the top half of the league table, progression in the FA Cup. If the side can achieve that, the prospect of Anthony Scully and Liam Bridcutt returning from injury; that would set things up nicely going into the Doncaster game.
Writer: hulloutpost
Have a go at our Lincoln City versus Shrewsbury Town Quizzes, published last season (they were all correct at the time they were published):
Michael Appleton: "Right from the first minute, I thought we stamped our authority on the game and put in a really good performance."https://t.co/B0whHUP1ke#ImpsAsOne #Salop
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) October 29, 2021
