Michael Appleton was realistic about the potential impact of having so many injuries but still managed to pick out some positives, ahead of the midweek home fixture versus Fleetwood Town.
You can discuss what Michael Appleton said earlier today HERE, as well as many other topics on our 100% Imps forum! We have also published a Lincoln City v Fleetwood Town Quiz, which can be found just below the summary. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
Injuries: Jorge Grant will be wearing a protective boot for a few more days ahead of a scan. MA will be amazed if JG is (only) out for weeks – it doesn’t look good. Adam Jackson has picked up a calf injury, he too awaits a scan and is highly doubtful for the game. TJ Eyoma looks favourite to play centre back in his absence; it is a position he has played in before and done well.
Max Sanders is being nursed through a slight hamstring strain which is why he has not been utilised, giving him the extra time to recover. He may play a part v Fleetwood; if not then the weekend.
“We’re very light tomorrow and possibly for a number of weeks. It’s a little bit concerning. Obviously, you want to be as strong as you possibly can at this stage of the season, where we are at but that’s football and you’ve got to deal with it”.
Plymouth Game: MA had been more ’emotional’ after the Swindon match than this contest. The poor start was maybe a hangover from not getting the result wanted from the Swindon game. However, the side recovered very well, showing a great response to come back and go ahead. Perhaps it was then a case of young players becoming too comfortable and enjoying the game.
“I came away thinking…for 20/25 minutes after half time; I’ll be surprised if you can get much better than that at this level, to the football that was played. The first 20/25 minutes of the second half were as good as what I’ve seen since I’ve been here”.
The players are lifting the bar but having done so they have to find a way to punish teams.
The outcome was probably a combination of lots of games and having young players missing some of the experienced players alongside them. If the senior players were available it probably wouldn’t happen. Feedback and information sharing will continue with the young players. Hopefully, they can recognise why they have started recent games slower than desired; not wait for a disappointment before reacting.
It is a phenomenon seen with young players and the only way for them to improve is to have experienced it and they will now look to take the game to the next level for forthcoming matches.
Fleetwood Town: “I think I’d probably go as far as saying with the potential amount of players out and the type of players we’ve got out; if we win this game tomorrow it will probably be as good a result or good a win as I’ve ever had in my career”.
Fleetwood have very good players plus a strong bench. Whilst they have been inconsistent, now the experienced Simon Grayson is in charge, MA expects them to improve as a side and their consistency with it during the latter stages of the season.
Under Grayson, Fleetwood have changed shape and keep two players up top, seeking to remain a threat. They seek to attack in most games and probably so after seeing Imps concede four goals in the last game. Fleetwood will want to come out of the blocks quickly to capitalise and the Lincoln players will be ready for that possibility. MA remains confident that Imps have players that can hurt Fleetwood.
Writer: hulloutpost
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Fleetwood Town Quiz below:
Michael Appleton: "We're very light tomorrow and possibly for a number of weeks."https://t.co/mhAs3I7GCG#ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps #FTFC pic.twitter.com/HQumehByku
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 1, 2021
