The Imps start their December schedule with a trip to Rotherham United in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday 3 December (7.45pm KO).
Read the thoughts of both Michael Skubala and midfielder Ethan Hamilton as well as catching up on vital match information in this preview.
Skubala’s thoughts:
“Erik’s improving all the time, it’s not easy to transition to life in a different country let alone football as well. There’s more duels, it’s a bit more direct and it’s more physical. He’s grown into it well and we saw at the weekend his power and the technical quality he brings. He’s still growing, and he’s aware we want him to learn different positions so he can keep impacting the team. He’s moving in the right direction.
“Ethan was magnificent on Saturday, he’s not played loads of football, but at 2-0 down he really took the game by the scruff of the neck and drove the team up the pitch. His mentality is one of the best in the group with the way he trains and the way he goes after games. In hard-fought away games Ethan Hamilton is a really important player for us. He not only grew into the game, he led the game from that area of the pitch. There’s big competition in midfield now, he’s really physical and they have to be the best version of themselves to get into the team.
“We know what’s coming, they’re a team that likes to get the ball forward quickly - they’re very aggressive, they have runners off the back. It’s a very similar way of playing to Steve Evans’ Stevenage team but with a bit more quality. Their league position isn’t representative of what they’re doing and creating, they’re definitely putting teams on the backfoot. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going away to a really tough team and we’re going to have to be physically on it, and tactically really strong.”
Hamilton’s take:
“It was enjoyable, it was a traditional cup tie and a very open game. It was good to get through to the next round. We were obviously disappointed with the result in the league, so it was good to get the win on this occasion.
“Some games are different and sometimes the space will open up and you are able to drive the ball, which I felt I was able to do in the game.
“You know what you’re getting when you play against a Steve Evans team. They’re always up and at you so we need to be ready for that, and hopefully we can try and take our game to them.”
A look at the opposition:
Rotherham United currently find themselves in 19th position in the Sky Bet League One standings after 16 games, and will be hoping for a good run of form to catapult themselves towards the play-off picture.
Having joined the Millers from Stevenage at the back end of the previous campaign, Steve Evans’ men have not had the start they would’ve wanted to the season, picking up just four victories so far.
Rotherham have struggled in front of goal of late, drawing a blank in four of their last five fixtures, but did get a solid 2-0 victory over Evans’ former club Stevenage last month.
Their last game saw them lose out 1-0 away at Crawley Town.
The Imps’ last victory at the AESSEAL New York Stadium came in 2019 when an own goal and a header from Harry Anderson sealed all three points.
Top scorer: Jonson Clarke-Harris (4 goals)
League form: LLWLL
Match information:
The Imps will be in all-black for their trip to Rotherham, which you can purchase HERE.
Richard Woods will be the referee for the match, with Richard Wigglesworth and Stephen Wade supporting him as his assistants. Garreth Rhodes will be the fourth official.
Purchase your tickets for the game HERE.