Lincoln City face Chesterfield this evening in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, and manager Michael Skubala has promised players a chance to impress after their strong start.
The Imps have nine points from their first four matches, including a big win against Mansfield Town, 4-1. They’re the division’s leading scorers with nine goals, and go into the game knowing they have a free Saturday this weekend, courtesy of the international break.
The Bristol Street Motors Trophy, in its previous guise as the Checkatrade Trophy, has been profitable for Lincoln. They lifted the trophy in 2018, and reached the semi-finals in 2021, only to be eliminated by Sunderland on penalties. However, despite his impressive start, Skubala has seen them play two cup matches, both against League Two opposition, and on both occasions, they were beaten.
This time out, the former Leeds coach is focused on getting a win, and he believes making changes to the side that beat Stevenage 1-0 this weekend is the way to do it, although those changes won’t be for the sake of changing things.
“There’ll be a few changes, of course, but it’s not that we’re changing to give people minutes,” he told local press, via The Stacey West. “We’re changing to win the game and keep it fresh. Obviously, we’ll have to look at some players as well, but first and foremost, our objective is to win this game of football.”
“There are a few players in there that have been chomping at the bit to get in the side. If they get their opportunity, train well, and earn a starting shirt, they have to show us.
“Like I’ve always said, we’ve now got competition for places. If they are in this game and it’s an opportunity to start and do well, then hopefully they can be in with a chance to start the next league game as well.”
The Imps have a first-team squad of 26 players, although they are carrying injuries to players such as Ethan Hamilton, Conor McGrandles, Reeco Hackett and Tyler Walker.
Their opponents, back in the Football League after a six-year absence, will be eager to resume hostilities with a relatively local side. They haven’t won at Sincil Bank since February 2011, and they have one win from their opening six games in all competitions.
Writer’s View
This could be a big game for the Imps fringe players. Of course, saying ‘fringe’ is unfair, because we’re not talking about a game of 11 v 11 these days, but instead of busy benches, 15 or 16 players per 90 minutes. The players likely to start will almost all have had regular football this season, but fewer minutes than the others.
There’s a really good chance here to build momentum, and winning in this competition is more important when you have a big squad rather than when a team operate on a skeleton group. With 26 players to keep happy, Skubala will want to get minutes into the legs of some of his squad, not least new signings such as Erik Ring, who now has international clearance.
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