Gavin Skelton feels Carlisle United must be at their best to maintain their recent progress against a tough Lincoln City side.
The Blues are hoping to make it three games unbeaten in League One when they head to the LNER Stadium tomorrow.
They will face a strong examination against Mark Kennedy’s Imps, who are eighth after a solid start and have won both their home games 3-0.
Assistant manager Skelton says Lincoln are solid third-tier opponents who can easily make life difficult for United.
But he stressed that Carlisle should also fancy their chances against any side if they produce what they are capable of.
“They’re an established League One team, and these are the games we have to go and put ourselves up against,” said Paul Simpson’s No2.
“They’ve got some players that we’re well aware of, that we’ve watched in the last two or three years that I like.
“We’re well aware of them, how they play and their threats, as they will be of us.
“If we go and perform, and have that belief and energy, I think we’re capable of getting a result anywhere.
“If we don’t it makes it difficult going to a place like Lincoln, which historically is a difficult place to go.”
FEATURE: the former Blues loan keeper standing in their way
Lincoln, after suffering a 3-0 opening-day defeat at Bolton Wanderers, have gone unbeaten in their five league games since then.
They are one of just two League One sides yet to concede at home, with former Blues loan keeper Lukas Jensen their last line of defence.
Their emphatic pair of home wins came against Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers, whilst they have won away against Shrewsbury Town whilst also drawing with Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers.
Kennedy’s side finished 11th last season and this is their fifth consecutive season in League One.
“They’re well organised, and they don’t really change from the system they’ve been playing,” added Skelton of United’s hosts.
“The front three are lively and have different threats, that’s something we will work on and be aware of.
“And in midfield they’ve got a couple of players who really know that position well and how to play it. They’ve got a really strong core.”
Carlisle have not won in their last five visits to Sincil Bank – their most recent win at the ground also one of the more infamous meetings between the clubs.
That was the game dubbed ‘the Battle of Sincil Bank’ in August 2002 when Roddy Collins’ Carlisle, despite having three men sent off, won 1-0 – on a day when John Courtenay was also involved in altercations with a steward which saw the owner and red-carded striker Richie Foran convicted by magistrates of threatening behaviour.
Carlisle’s most recent visit to the ground saw a 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup under John Sheridan in December 2018, the last league visit coming in October that season when Ashley Nadesan’s brace for the Blues earned a 2-2 draw.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here