Lincoln City vs Ipswich Town. The FA Cup Third Round.
LNER Stadium.
Tuesday 17 January 2017 19:22, UK
Lincoln boss Danny Cowley expects Ipswich to be better prepared when the two sides meet again in Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay.
The Vanarama National League leaders shocked their Sky Bet Championship opponents in the initial tie at Portman Road, twice leading through Theo Robinson goals before Tom Lawrence's second of the game with four minutes left earned Ipswich a 2-2 draw.
Cowley thinks his team no longer have the element of surprise and is expecting a better display from Ipswich this time around, with a home tie against Brighton in round four the prize on offer.
"There's no doubt we are going to see a better version of Ipswich, you will see a more focused Ipswich," said Cowley ahead of the televised clash at Sincil Bank.
"We are very respectful of them. They have got some fantastic players. It was a pleasure to compete against them and we look forward to doing it again.
"We probably out-performed ourselves in the first game and got to levels we weren't sure we were capable of.
"The boys played like Championship players. That doesn't mean they are Championship players, because to be that you would have to play at that level game in, game out. But we showed we are capable of going toe-to-toe with a Championship team.
"It's a huge challenge for the group to do that again. It is going to test us physically and mentally but it gives us an opportunity to show the club in a good light again.
"To have this nationwide exposure is great for everybody. We are in front of the cameras, it will be a great night for the club and we want to make the most of it."
Lincoln captain Luke Waterfall, Bradley Wood, Alex Woodyard, Nathan Arnold, Matt Rhead and Robinson were all rested on Saturday at Gateshead in the FA Trophy and are expected to return to the Imps' starting line up.
Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy remains without the injured Myles Kenlock (calf), David McGoldrick (hamstring), Brett Pitman (calf), Luke Hyam (knee), Tommy Smith (back), Teddy Bishop (ankle), Paul Digby (knee), Jonny Williams (shoulder) and Giles Coke (knee) but is still expected to rotate his squad again.
Veteran goalkeeper Dean Gerken will come into the side, as he did for the first game against Lincoln, but new signings Kieffer Moore and Jordan Spence are ineligible.
Despite his problems, McCarthy insists it will be a strong team which takes to the field at Sincil Bank.
He said: "There's no question about it. You've seen the full strength squad we've got anyway.
"I might make a couple of changes but it'll still be a strong team. I've got Wardy (Grant Ward), I've got Dougie (Jonathan Douglas), I've got Leon Best to play, I'm not playing kids."
