180517 Allsop

Ryan Allsop insists he and his team mates can't let the occasion of a Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg get the better of them, as City look to reach a third-ever Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Final.

The Imps travel to Exeter with the tie all square, following a first leg draw at Sincil Bank on Saturday.

A victory tonight would secure City a second Wembley trip of the season following 134 years without a meeting, and the shot stopper believes the team needs to approach the game in a relaxed manner.

“We know we are a strong and difficult team to play against so we will go there and be as relaxed as possible. It’s a high-pressure game and we can’t let the occasion get the better of us,” explained Allsop.

“We know they are a talented team, it will be two different styles of football but we have spoken about what we need to do and what will help us get the advantage on them, we need to put that into practice.  

“It’s all in the balance and they have the advantage of being at home but we back ourselves against anyone in the league. We are very much looking forward to it and we will go there and put it right on them and hopefully get the win.”

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Since his arrival from AFC Bournemouth in January, Allsop has already featured in a Lincoln side at Wembley when they beat Shrewsbury 1-0 to win the Checkatrade Trophy.

Allsop said: “We have got a brilliant squad with brilliant players to come in if we have injuries. 

“Everyone is very experienced so it is brilliant for us as a team to have the options that we have got, maybe not for the manager because he has a tough decision every week but it’s brilliant knowing that if anything happens we’ve got experienced players to come into it.”

With the possibility of extra-time and penalties looming, Allsop has said he hasn't been practising saving penalties, but he will be researching Exeter’s spot kick takers.

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“We prepare for games equally going into them, we know it’s a big game and we will take it in our stride and prepare as we do normally by not bigging up the occasion too much,” the 25-year-old said.

“We will do our research through video with previous takers and things like that but I don’t think you can recreate the pressure or stage that it’ll be on.

"As a goalkeeper, I won’t be training too much to save them but I’ll be doing my research on their takers. 

“I think we need to take it as it comes, we know their strengths and weaknesses, we need to be prepared for whatever they throw at us. There’s still stuff we need to work on from the video but we definitely need to keep them at bay."

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The on-loan goalkeeper believes the Imps are ready to make the step up to League One, as City are potentially 180 minutes from heading to the third tier for the first time this century.

“It’s got the players, it’s got the staff and the new training ground so it’s got all the foundations to be a great club. The fan base is unbelievable and it is well equipped for League One," Allsop added.

“The way this club has moved forward in such a short period of time is unbelievable, it’s massive and I am very grateful to have played a part in it. It will be a great achievement for the club and everybody involved.

"Our main aim this season is to get promoted again and to do it at Wembley, there is no better stage.”

Tonight's game will be shown live from Sincil Bank, with the Travis Perkins Suite opening at 6pm to screen the match.