Chris Sutton wants his Lincoln team to get back to basics when the Imps travel to bottom side Darlington on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Lincoln go into the game on the back of three successive away defeats, but will be looking for a return to winning ways at the Darlington Arena.
Speaking ahead of the game, Sutton said his players must get smarter with their decision-making.
"We need to go back to basics and be better on the small things," he said. "When we won three in a row, we were getting those right. But in the last three games, there has been a fine line between winning and losing."
Saturday's 2-1 loss at Chesterfield was the latest reversal for the Imps and Sutton says his team needs to tighten up at the back.
"We want to score goals and win games, but we also need to keep clean sheets." He added: "By conceeding goals, we're making it difficult for ourselves. But if you don't conceed, you don't lose games.
Their opponents Darlington are 12 points off safety, but have up to three games in hand on the teams above them. Despite the Quakers lowly position, Sutton is expecting a difficult game.
"They're not going to lie down and we need to make sure we are active," he said. "Tadgh Purcell up front is scoring goals for them and they will cause teams problems. If they string a few wins together they will be back in with a chance of survival and they'll certainly see Tuesday as a game to do that."
Sutton has one or two injury worries ahead the game. Chris Herd, who came off on Saturday, is getting treatment today and will be assessed further tomorrow. While Adam Watts is likely to be fit after his hamstring was not as bad as first feared.
Darlington, on the other hand, will be seeking another scalp following their impressive 2-0 home win over fifth-placed Rotherham at the weekend.
Goals from Tadhg Purcell (19) and Gareth Waite (52) gave Steve Staunton's men a second triumph over the Millers, a month after their 2-1 success at the Don Valley Stadium.
This eye-raising feat was a rare high in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for the Quakers.
They lost 12 of their opening 14 league games before achieving their first league victory in mid-October over sixth-placed Shewsbury. Despite twice running Leeds United close in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and Carling Cup, Darlington suffered defeat in 10 of their next 12 matches. These included heavy losses to Chesterfield, Morecambe, Notts County and Torquay.
Staunton's team have been bottom of League Two since the end of August, but they are capable of springing a surprise at home. Three of Darlington's four league victories have come at the Darlington Arena, where in 12 matches they have conceeded only 16 goals.
Their next home fixture with Lincoln will be the third time the two clubs have met this season. They played twice back in September; in the Trophy and in the league. After two head-to-heads, both teams are tied at one victory apiece.
A first-half Lee Thorpe goal gave the Quakers a 1-0 home win in the first meeting. But three days later, Lincoln avenged their Trophy exit with a 3-0 league win at Sincil Bank through two goals from Rene Howe and one from Chris Fagan. The Imps will now be aiming to come out on top in the best of three on Tuesday.
Darlington have no fresh injuries or suspensions after Saturdays game with Jeff Smith expected to overcome a dead leg he picked up in the win over the Millers. Chris Lumsdon (knee), Mark Bower (ankle) and Noel Whelan (hamstring) will all miss out.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm with Andy Haines the match referee.
by Aron Hegarty
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