The Imps have a blank weekend this weekend, as elimination in the FA Cup means no Second Round tie.
It was unfortunate to lose on penalties to Salford City, a late goal condemning us to extra time and penalties, where we went out of the competition. Early exits are the norm for the Imps, but it felt like a good chance to progress.
While the Ammies host Leyton Orient, the Imps will get a rest. While next Tuesday’s opponents, Barnsley, face Peterborough United (and hopefully get taken to extra time), our boys will not be in action.
Will it be a weekend with the feet up watching Sky Sports News, or listening to the Stacey West Podcast?
In his post-match interview following our victory against Port Vale, Michael Skubala made it clear what the players could expect.
“Training,” he said, with a wry smile. “The lads will be in. They won’t like that because it’s probably the first time they’ve heard it, but we’ve got to keep working. The lads know that.”
I’ve always felt the Imps are better after a spell on the training ground. We had time off in early January 2023 and flew towards the play-offs. We have started well in the last two seasons after prolonged spells in pre-season training, and with the staff we have now, fans will expect players to improve on the training ground.
In the run up to the Port Vale game, Michael explained how training is about so much more than fitness.
“This week they’ve been magnificent. Even the lads not in the squad, training on Thursday and Friday, you could see the competitiveness and how everybody wants to get in the team, but also how they help each other tactically.”
The game against Barnsley will give us a chance to gain revenge for our double header of defeats against them last season. We lost a compelling game at the Bank early in the season, going down to a 2-1 defeat, and succumbed 4-3 in the return fixture at Oakwell, despite coming up against a poor Tykes’ side.
We will be hunting our first home league victory against Barnsley since the 1975/76 season, when we turned them over 2-1 en route to winning the Division Four title with a record number of points.