Lincoln City manager Michael Skubala claims his side are ready to pounce as the race to reach the League One play-offs begins to heat up.
The Imps extended their unbeaten run to 12 games last night when they recorded an emphatic 6-0 win over Cambridge United at the LNER Stadium. The thrashing followed on from Saturday’s equally impressive 5-1 win over promotion-chasers Barnsley at Oakwell and has put the East Midlands outfit firmly in the conversation for a top six finish.
The tone was set early on when Jack Moylan picked up from where he left off at the weekend, hitting a stunning strike to give his side the lead after just three minutes. The former Shelbourne attacker then doubled the advantage after 25 minutes as Skubala’s team went into the break two goals to the good.
In truth, the scoreline flattered the visitors and the second period was just three minutes old when Joe Taylor got his name on the scoresheet from close range. The Luton Town loanee then hit his second of the night with a clever finish after some excellent work from Moylan.
Lincoln weren’t done though, and there was time for TJ Eyoma and Dylan Duffy to add to the tally late on to complete the rout.
After appearing as if they would limp to a mid-table finish, their recent exploits have seen them move to within three points of sixth-placed Stevenage. Steve Evans’ side do have two games in hand, although they travel to in-form Peterborough United tonight.
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Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire after the game, Skubala urged his team to focus on the task in hand:
“We need to keep our feet on the ground.
“Enjoy it as fans and get excited, but for me it’s about doing the right thing at the right time, which is going to the next game and trying to win it.”
Refusing to get carried away, the ex-Leeds United coach did say that the Imps will be waiting in the wings should any of the teams above them hit a poor run of form:
“We are a tough team to play against and we have a ruthless streak to us.
“The mentality of the group is fantastic at the moment.
“But we haven’t cracked it. We are putting a marker down that says if anyone slips up, we will be there.”
Lincoln host Bristol Rovers on Saturday before a tough trip to Oxford United the following week.
Writer’s View
Lincoln are the team to beat at the moment and you’d fancy them to extend their unbeaten run on Saturday. They are the favourites of many to gatecrash the play-off party, although it is going to be tough to keep this momentum up for the remainder of the campaign.
Michael Skubala has performed wonders since the turn of the year and it is no coincidence that they have emerged from the pack following the return of key players from injury and some shrewd January business. Stevenage are still in the driving seat, but the Imps are well and truly in the conversation.
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