Schumacher's Lincoln Preview

Before Argyle travelled to Morecambe for a Good Friday fixture, Argyle manager Steven Schumacher highlighted how key maximum points over Easter weekend can be to a side.

Having won 3-1 at Morecambe, Schumacher and his Pilgrims have completed 50% of their weekend’s objective, and now will turn their attention to Lincoln City at Home Park on Monday.

Argyle’s extraordinary home form this season – 17 wins from 19 games – will give them confidence heading into the game, but 14th-placed Lincoln are sure to make things tough for the table-topping Pilgrims. The Imps have drawn 19 of their 39 games this season – the most in the EFL – and one of those draws was against Argyle, in the first game between the sides this season.

On that day, Adam Randell gave Argyle a lead, with Max Sanders equalising for Lincoln right on half-time.

Like Argyle, Lincoln began their Easter with three points, beating Cheltenham Town at home.

“It’s obviously a bit better if you've won the first game on the Easter weekend,” said Schumacher. “I spoke last week about it being an important part of people's seasons, for momentum. Psychologically, as well, it can have an effect.

“We've done the first part of it, what we needed to do.  We came away from Morecambe with all three points, now we've got to go and back it up with another good result.

“They're a good team. It's never an easy game against them. They've got some quality individuals that can hurt you if you don't concentrate and we'll have to be ready for them.

“I remember the game against them, at their place early on the season. It was a tough game. We were in great form as well going into that. We were flying, but we got out of it and we said, at the end of our game, it's a good point.

“We are at home. We've got our fans behind us. I'm sure it'll be a sell-out. We need to make sure that we're ready for it and as best prepared as we can.

“I know it'll be a tough game. It'll be one that we’ll be confident going into, especially after today's performance and result.  

“With our form how it has been at home, we know that if we do the basics well and we play at a tempo like we have done pretty much every time at Home Park, then we'll be okay, and we can give Lincoln a good game. Hopefully we get another big result like on Friday.”