Momentum the key as Lincoln City look to build on weekend demolition job

Lincoln City entertain Rotherham United looking to keep momentum in their sails following an emphatic 5-1 victory over Cambridge United on Saturday.

The victory has been worthwhile as patient Imps fans had seen their side lose three consecutive league games on the bounce following their opening day win against Fleetwood Town. 

Replacing the quality of Brennan Johnson, Morgan Rogers and Jorge Grant, all now plying their trade in the Championship, was going to be tough. Worryingly but not surprisingly, Lincoln were finding goals hard to come by in their opening league outings.

Having also suffered from pre-season injuries, disruption through COVID and losing another one of last season’s bright stars in Tayo Edun on deadline day, Michael Appleton’s trust in following the process that brought about their recent success paid dividends against Cambridge.

In particular, filling Johnson’s boots was a potentially tough act to follow, but Anthony Scully’s red-hot form has been a massive early season plus for Appleton. Two more superbly taken goals and three assists have taken his impressive stats to nine goals in as many appearances with four key contributions to boot.

The form will not harm the 22-year-old’s international aspirations at all, with rumours growing that he may well be in contention for an international call-up with the Republic of Ireland given his early season prowess.

While Scully has rightfully picked up early season plaudits for his storming start to the season, there has been pressure on his teammates to contribute more to Lincoln’s goals scored column.

Having signed from Bristol City in the summer, Hakeeb Adelakun has taken some time to settle into life at Sincil Bank, but two goals in the previous week have got his season truly up and running.

A superb strike against Bradford City in the Papa John’s Trophy was followed up with an opening minute tap in to put the Imps ahead on Saturday. For a player with real quality in the division, Appleton will be delighted that his new arrivals are starting to gel.

With Conor McGrandles netting his first of the season, the Scotsman is a potential 10-goal a season midfielder, and with Manchester City loanee Lewis Fiorini sweeping home a beautiful 20-yard effort in the demolition of Cambridge, Appleton was pleased with his sides collective effort in front of goal.

“It makes it more apparent that we have to share the load and other people need to take responsibility”

“We can’t rely on one or two people. Anthony [Scully] is in a real purple patch, and I hope that continues for a long time.

“But, as we saw on Saturday, we’ve got other players in the team who are more than capable of scoring goals.”

Welcoming back 32-year-old Chris Maguire for his first taste of league action at the weekend coming off the bench, Appleton will be pleased to have further options in the attacking third as he still looks to manage their League One schedule. 

Appleton has already suggested that changes will be in his mind for the rearranged fixture against Rotherham. With doubts over Teddy Bishop in midfield, he should have youngster Max Sanders available but having left out the influential Adam Jackson at the weekend, the Imps boss may welcome his centre half back into the fold to deal with Rotherham’s physicality and aerial threat.

“We’ve got a completely different game on Tuesday”

“We’re going to need people who can head the ball and deal with crosses into the box. Adam will certainly come into my thoughts for that.”

On the back of two consecutive wins going into the international break, Rotherham had their progress curtailed in a disappointing 4-2 home defeat to Fleetwood Town at the weekend. Despite leading 2-1 at half-time, Paul Warne’s men surrendered their lead to be comfortably beaten by Simon Grayson’s Cod Army.

The Rotherham manager will be looking for a reaction from his players as he attempts to get the Millers back into the kind of form that saw them make a real fist of staying up in the Championship on the final day of last season.

He will be hoping to welcome back midfielder Shane Ferguson, who missed Saturday’s defeat more as a precaution, having returned from international break nursing a minor knock.

With both sides having endured a slightly underwhelming start to the campaign, the fixture acts as an early measuring stick to test their promotion ambitions. 

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt