Morecambe head coach Derek Adams wants to ’cause a shock’ as his side prepares to play League One side Lincoln City in the FA Cup tomorrow.
The Shrimps travel to Sincil Bank on Saturday afternoon, on the back of a purple patch of an eight-match unbeaten run before losing to Barrow on Halloween night.
Lincoln City currently occupy ninth in the League One table, continuing their search for a new manager following the departure of Mark Kennedy.
Interim Manager Tom Shaw has kept the ship steady in Lincoln, with wins against Fleetwood Town and Charlton Athletic during his spell, but fell last time out to second-placed Oxford United at home.
Derek Adams was full of praise for the Imps, whilst setting a challenge for his Morecambe side. He said, via Lancaster Guardian: “Saturday is one where we have to go and cause a shock as Lincoln are at home and they’re a League One side.
“They might have a temporary manager but they still play with the same focus and formation.
“They have done really well and they are a well-run football club, but we have to go there and get the better of them.
“Getting to the next round of the cup will be massively important for us and that’s the focus.”
The Scottish manager also gave injury updates, with Chris Stokes being assessed following a hamstring issue that forced him out of the Barrow trip.
Goalkeeper Stuart Moore is also missing, with Adams adding: “Stuart has got between 14 and 16 weeks out, which is a long time.
“Adam [Smith] has got a lot of experience, though we do have the option of bringing in an out-of-contract keeper – which isn’t easy – or taking in an emergency loan.”
Writer’s View
Morecambe should cause a real test for Lincoln in the cup. The Lancashire side claimed a late winner the last time the two sides met at the back end of last season, and have made a relatively decent start to life back in League Two. Their hot streak looks good on paper, but will it transfer to a team in a higher division?
The lack of a manager at Lincoln could cause issues for them. Whilst the tactics haven’t changed, the form has started to dip with a draw against Exeter and the loss on Tuesday night to Oxford. The new manager bounce seems to have worn off, but the Imps will have the crowd with them and that could make all the difference when it comes down to it. This should be a game that goes down to the wire, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it go to a replay.
Football journalist with The Real EFL since 2023. A 2024 Multimedia Journalism graduate from the University of Salford, Lewis specialises in Salford City FC and EFL coverage.
