Danny Cowley refused to name his player of the season in Thursday's press conference saying that the side have earned the success they have experienced this season through pure hard work.
Cowley discussed his happiness with the squad’s efforts throughout this campaign as they approach the last game of the season on Saturday. The Imps go into the game needing just one point to secure a playoff place.
Speaking to the press yesterday, the Imps boss said: “I think if we went back a year then we’d cut our right arm off to be in this position. We’ve had a really good season to date but the aim has always been to get to the playoffs. We need one point to get there and there is no doubt that it’ll be the hardest point to get this season.
“We played five games in fifteen days which was a huge ask when you think we’d played 50 games plus going into that as well as a trip to Wembley just a week earlier. It has been really challenging and testing on the boys both physically and mentally. The great thing about our group is that we are still learning. Whenever we’ve had disappointment this season it has never dampened our enthusiasm to work hard and to improve.
“We’ve played a lot of big games over the last two years, and that experience will hold us in good stead. We embrace the challenges and the pressure, intensity and the atmosphere in these big games. I’m proud of the group, day in and day out in terms of their work, attitude and application. They’ve bounced back from disappointment and we have a real determined group.”
City sit seventh in the SkyBet League Two table with a points tally of 74. The Imps have won two of their last five games as well as picking up a poing in the draw against Wycombe Wanderers.
The club’s annual season awards presentation will also take place this weekend. The Imps boss discussed his player of the season in front of the press yesterday. “I’ve always thought football is a team game and I don’t like individual awards. Even when we have individual awards I want them to be spread out evenly, especially if we have had a successful season because to have a successful season it is always about more than one player, you need a group. Everybody has contributed this year and that’s allowed us to get in the position we are in. I see the best in them all,” said Cowley.
Lincoln face Yeovil Town this Saturday on the last day of the 2017/18 SkyBet League Two season. The Glovers are 20th in the table and have nothing to play for after losing four of their last five games. Despite this, Cowley made it clear that he has to respect the side going into Saturday’s match.
“They’ve had some really good league results, they beat Exeter 3-1 and Coventry 6-2, they can beat anyone on their day plus they have some really good players. We will give them the respect they deserve but it’s a really big game in our season. We have worked really hard to get in this position and I’m actually pleased Mansfield won on Saturday because we want to do it on our own accord. All season we’ve had to work hard for the success we have had.
“There are no easy games at this level as we have found out in the last 45. I’ve been reliably informed that if we win on Saturday then it will be the highest points tally by any Lincoln City team in the Football League, there may be teams who have finished higher with the two-point system but still that would be a great achievement. We are focused on the result and getting in the playoffs.”
Cowley finished by praising the supporters for their efforts this season: “Our supporters have been brilliant both home and away, we’ve taken 3,000 plus to Coventry which is phenomenal on a Tuesday night. The fact that the Coventry supporters gave our supporters a round of applause says everything about them, that doesn’t happen in English football.
“The fans have driven us all season and we need one final push now so we will need everybody on board. Sincil Bank on Saturday will be special so we need to make sure that we crank it right up. We need to take Yeovil to a place that they are not willing to go because we want the rewards for the hard work that we all deserve.”
