Mark Kennedy appropriately paid respects on behalf of everyone connected with Lincoln City Football Club, to Leyton Orient supporter Derek, his family and friends after he sadly passed away during the midweek match at Brisbane Road; before discussing his thoughts on past and the upcoming fixture with ‘almost’ a Derby – Peterborough United.
QUIZ: How much can you remember last season’s match between Peterborough United and Lincoln City at London Road? Have a go at the quiz at the bottom of the page!
You can discuss what Mark Kennedy has said ahead of this match here, or in the comments section at the bottom, as well as get involved with the pre-match discussion on the forum!
Peterborough United: The corresponding fixture and heavy defeat at London Road last season had a notable personal impact on MK and directly led to significant, lasting change in approach from his Lincoln teams.
“Peterborough was the game where I changed my mindset on what we should do going forward and how we were going to do things”
After that match and following lengthy discourse with a mentor, MK knew he was going to switch to the back five system that was first seen a short while later in the away game at Bolton Wanderers.
“It was a pivotal time in my coaching journey……in the current history of Lincoln it’s been a pivotal time, because it’s when Lincoln’s head coach decided to look at something different and I think it serves us well”.
MK acknowledged the home game against the Posh had been bitterly disappointing having been unbeaten at home up to that point. It was probably the first time his side had rolled over and handed the opposition a victory. If ‘you’ lose a game there is a way of doing it and that day the Imps lost in the wrong way. In life that could happen again, but for sure MK does not want to see that.
MK resisted the suggestion that the Imps will be out for revenge as that is a word he hates and will never use. Last year has gone and there will be no dwelling on that, just as there will be no wallowing over notable successes on other occasions.
Peterborough and their model are a club MK has admired, going back even to his own playing days. They always recruit fantastic footballing players, possessed of steel and toughness. They serve up an attractive brand and style of football. It is one of the toughest games of the season.
The match has the feeling of a Derby about it, with MK recalling the number of fans that travelled from Lincoln and their positive reaction to a bad defeat during and after the away game. That was something that has really stuck with MK.
“We got a standing ovation. It was quite humbling. It was probably my first real understanding of what Lincoln represented, what the fans represented”.
Without giving anything else away team wise, MK was happy to report that Danny Mandroiu is ready to go for ninety minutes.
Evolution of the Side: MK reflected that goals coming from all areas of the pitch is in spite of the striker injury crisis, not because of it. He had identified the lack of goals being shared out last season, it was something he had jumped on to address. The centre backs carry a threat from set pieces, the wing backs add another dimension, other players coming ‘in’ and the substitutes, all add to that effort.
“All around the pitch there’s been a shift in where goals come, how they come and everybody’s playing their part, particularly around subs. Last year we didn’t really have impact from our subs”.
The failure to score goals from seventy minutes onwards last season was palpable. A big shift with regard to that has already been seen this year.
Part of that process involved utilising a change in the dynamic of the players. Whilst retaining the technical ability, a physical and mental resilience has been added. The players reliably deliver on the basic things that should be a given but in some cases ‘you’ don’t always get.
Ethan Hamilton was referenced as an atypical example. MK recalled watching Hamilton in action when he had scouted his Accrington side versus Forest Green Rovers last season. The player had immediately caught MK’s eye and was somebody that he had monitored ever since. MK was personally very keen, strong even, when the prospect of signing him arose. The Imps are now reaping the rewards.
Mk signed off by recognising the part Hakeeb Adelakun is playing, given he had not been in the managers plans until recent circumstances dictated otherwise. The player has proven to be the ultimate professional with his approach to training and playing worthy of huge credit and plaudits. HA has conducted himself impeccably and the highest compliment MK can pay Hakeem is that should he have a daughter, HA is the sort of person he would be pleased for her to bring home to meet him.
Writer: hulloutpost
MK: "Peterborough was the game where I changed my mindset."https://t.co/Akbmj77f4g#PUFC #Peterborough #WeAreImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) October 6, 2023
