Danny Cowley was teaching P.E not that long ago but he won’t be overseeing any bleep tests again anytime soon. His Lincoln City side are on the brink of promotion to the third division as they travel south to Exeter for the second leg of their League Two Play-Off semi-final tonight at 7:45 BST.
A 0-0 draw in their home tie leaves them, nominally, at a disadvantage coming into this one the bookies price them up as having an even chance of coming through it in 90 minutes.
Their FA Cup journey last year - which saw them beat Burnley 1-0 while playing in the non-league - and their Checkatrade Trophy win this term, leave them with a vast amount of experience in handling the pressure of knockout games and that can prove key here.
Paul Tisdale's hosts might have finished about Lincoln in the league, and have that immensely experienced and immaculately dressed gaffer to guide them, but we think they’ll be edged out.
A bit of 10/11 is available about the visitors qualifying (via a win within the 90 or an extra-time/penalties win) and that seems fair. Their nouse should tell at one time or another and a shade off odds-against is a fair enough number to make that eventuality worth getting onside.
A place at Wembley to face Coventry or Notts County is on the line and it’s a setting they’ll be comfortable in. We’ll make that our sole interest in the game as Lincoln edge towards back-to-back promotions.
