Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley says that the club are not planning to get ahead of themselves after what he described as a good start to the EFL season.
The Imps have picked up an impressive 22 points from their opening nine games, which sees them sitting pretty at the top of League Two.
Cowley on expectations
Danny Cowley insists that it is early days as to whether Lincoln City can be as successful as teams he’s managed in the past, though he does believe that he has seen positive signs.
Cowley managed to win three promotions in just seven years at first club Concord Rangers, taking them from the Essex Senior Football League to the National League South.
It may be too early to say whether that feat can be repeated.
He said:
“We are really pleased with the start that we’ve made and the amount of points that we’ve accumulated, but we’re respectful that after ten games last year Notts County and Exeter would have both been on over 20 points and neither of those got promoted.”
“We are sure not to get ahead of ourselves. It’s been a good start and we’d like to accumulate some more points in these two really tough away games.”
Cowley on Cheltenham
Lincoln City face a trip to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, and the Robins will be looking to bounce back after defeat away at high flying Exeter last weekend.
A difficult start for Michael Duff’s side has seen them fail to win at home yet this season. With the side sat in 18th position, they will be hoping to upset the odds against the Imps.
On Saturday’s opponents, Cowley said:
“It’s never easy to go to Cheltenham. We watched them back against Exeter on Saturday and they were significantly better than Exeter in the first half of that game and deservedly went in at half time in the lead.”
“They’re a well organised team, and they’ll be good from restarts. They’ve got a lot of physicality and aerial prowess within the group. So we’re expecting a really tough game.”
“I looked at their games early on and they were all very close, they were just on the wrong side of the fine margins. They’ve got a new manager in and increased the playing squad, so lots of depth and lots of different options.”
“I would expect them to be very competitive in this division and be at least in the top half of the division, if not in an around the play off places.”
Cowley on injuries
Meanwhile, in injury news, Danny Cowley has described the rate of Josh Vickers’ recovery as unique.
Lincoln City have injuries to deal with as their first choice goalkeeper had been sidelined since the draw away at rivals Grimsby Town in August, however he returned much earlier than expected to play between the sticks for the win over MK Dons last weekend.
That leaves Sam Slocombe, who was brought in on loan when the injury occurred, stuck as third choice keeper, an issue which Cowley says he will address.
On Vickers, Cowley said:
“When Josh first got injured, we anticipated from the original scan for it to be a lot more serious than it actually has been.”
“It’s been a little bit unique, but the great thing is that Josh is back, we will monitor how he copes with Saturday and then Tuesday and make a decision off the back of that.”
In other injury news, Cowley has said that long term absentee Sam Habergham’s recovery has taken longer than they would have liked, but that his mentality and desire is unbelievable.
In terms of the rest of the squad, there are no new injury concerns ahead on the weekend clash with Cheltenham.
