Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says he and the players are looking forward to the challenge of facing Lincoln City in the play-offs and is expecting a tough challenge from Danny Cowley’s team.
Lincoln, who finished seventh in the table, beat the Grecians 3-2 at Sincil Bank when the sides met on March 30 but City won the match at St James Park back in August 1-0.
Asked if he could draw anything from those matches, Tis said: “The games are relevant because it is this season, it is the same set of managers and same set of players.
“Yes, the games we early and late in the season but it is still the same season and we have had two matches against them now and we have both seen each other throughout the season.
“So we have both got a lot to go on. It will be a challenge for both of us to make sure we try and get our best game on the pitch.
“I think both sets of management teams will be looking at their research and trying to get that into their players to make an advantage and create a win. They will be a tough nut to crack and we are expecting a really tough game.”
The Grecians just missed out on automatic promotion in League Two this season finishing fourth in the table. However, Tis says the players have now drawn a line under that and are looking forward to the play-off games
“We were after automatic promotion but we have just missed out and now we have got a second bit of the cherry,” he said. “We are ready for it and it makes the season worthwhile if you get that chance at the end to play for promotion.
“The line has been drawn (on automatic promotion), whether it is easy, difficult or emotionally draining that is all in your mind.
“What has happened is we have drawn that line and we are now into a double game against Lincoln City and I think we have got as good a chance as anybody. We are looking at the next two games. That is what it is all about, nothing more, nothing less. We are not getting ahead of ourselves. We have just got to try and come out on top.”
Last season City were involved in a thrilling play-off semi-final with Carlisle United where 11 goals hit the back of the net including an injury-time winner from Jack Stacey. So would Tis prefer a boring 1-0 victory instead?
“Whatever it is, I don’t mind as long as we win,” he said. “In fact a 1-0 victory might be worse. Hanging onto a 1-0 lead late into a game, I’m not sure what that does for your heart.
“However, it is all going to be nerve-wrecking, it is all going be exciting. It will be thrilling. It will be end-to-end. Both teams are in good form because by definition we are both in the play-offs. I think it will be a really exciting 190 minutes that we will be playing."
Tickets:
Tickets for City's Sky Bet EFL League Two play-off semi-final first leg match at Lincoln City are on sale until 9am tomorrow (Friday, May 11).
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