The Imps’ boss Danny Cowley admitted it’s been a tough week for everyone at the club, including himself, following the defeat to Crewe Alexandra last weekend but he and the team are determined to bounce back.
Cowley said as much as the pain of the last performance in SkyBet League Two has resonated since the final whistle, it also serves as motivation for everyone to get back to the standards which they have all set for themselves over the course of the season so far.
“It’s been a long painful wait when you’ve had a disappointing result like last Saturday. There’s been a lot of soul searching; when you let everyone down like we did you have to feel the disappointment and guilt that comes with it. We felt that early this week.
“What you have to do is try to learn from the performance so that you don’t play like that again.” He said.
Cowley continued: “You have to take your part in it, from the final whistle onwards I spent a long time evaluating all the decisions I made in the lead up to the game. You look at all those things and without a doubt I look at myself and be accountable and that’s the right thing to do.
“We win together and lose together, we have to accept the criticism (from last week) and take it on the chin. Then be ready to respond.”
This weekend, a tough trip to Coventry City awaits but with over 3,500 City supporters expected to make the trip to the Ricoh Arena, the manager says it’s for those people more than any that the team need to return to a positive outcome.
“This is competitive top level sport, we would all like success after success and have a really continued progress but you always get bumps and when you hit a bump and a barrier you have to dust yourself down and respond quick and ultimately our work this week has been on doing that.”
“We’ve got a brilliant group, the hardest part about last week was that the supporters were still singing the player’s names and our names. I don’t know at any other club that would have had their supporters singing their players names after a home defeat, it shows how good they are.
“To be right on the edge of the playoffs and be in a Wembley final, we have so much to play for. These moments make or break you and we have a lot of strong men and a lot of will and determination.
“I think it makes for a brilliant atmosphere this weekend, the weather has been against us and I know how difficult the roads are. Of course we want as many fans there as possible, but we want them to stay safe and we all hope they can get there in a safe way.”
