Ahead of the short trip away to Barnsley, Michael Skubala started with where else other, than the news of another player season-ending injury.
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You can discuss what Michael Skubala has said ahead of the match here, and get involved with our pre-match discussion!
Injury Front: Conor McGrandles is out for the season. After the scan, it is apparent he needs an operation. It’s not great, having already lost Ethan Hamilton the Imps have now lost their midfield cover; it’s a big blow. It’s a real shame for Conor as he was in good form.
“We have to dig deep, we have to find ways and keep going”.
MS was not in a position to comment on whether Lincoln would re-visit signing Conor in the summer due to the variables involved with him being a Charlton player.
In better news news, Adam Jackson has been fully training without a mask and is available for selection on Saturday.
How will the Midfield Adapt: MS mused that it may be a case of having to play people out of position – sacrificing preferred positions for team shape. Jack Moylan for example isn’t somebody he is looking to re-train as a central midfielder but the (modern) game is very fluid now, so somebody like Jack will have components of the midfield role already in his game, taken from his usual positions such as a number 10.
Jack wants to play, he is chomping at the bit – trying to get minutes along with everybody else.
“The group here is always hungry, really want to play, really want to get into the team. So when they’re called upon I think they do the best they can do, which is great”.
Excellent Defensive Record: The success is partly down to the way the team sets up with credit going to the players individually but also as a unit as a whole based upon whoever is playing on the day. The side have been brilliant as a defensive line, trying to be aggressive in addition to improving when is possession of the ball.
“They’ve got that heart and that desire to stop the ball getting in the box, getting in the back of the net, and I think they’re really good in those moments”.
Barnsley: MS watched Barnsley play Bolton and they were fantastic for more than an hour. They are a really good team and have moved on considerably since the game at the LNER. That is reflected in their league position, being genuine contenders for automatic promotion. It will be a tough place and crowd to encounter, but MS is heartened in the knowledge of a large Imps contingent following the side.
“We’re going to have to be really solid and we’re going to have to take the moments that come in the game”
MS recognised that having not lost at home to good teams like Derby recently, the Imps now need to replicate that type of performance away at Barnsley. It will be important to remain defensively strong and make the game more how Lincoln want to play it than Barnsley would like to.
Writer: hulloutpost
Skubala: "The group here is always hungry."https://t.co/pcBs9CQUsT#BarnsleyFC #Barnsley #WeAreImps
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 8, 2024
