Danny Cowley takes his side into Emirates FA Cup action against Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening
Danny Cowley wants his team to show the “best version” of Lincoln City when they aim to topple Ipswich Town in The Emirates FA Cup.
The Imps line-up at Sincil Bank in front of a sell-out crowd and live on BBC One on Tuesday evening for their replay with the Championship side after a 2-2 draw at Portman Road in the first tie ten days ago.
And with all eyes now on this game expecting a potential Cup upset, the City boss is hoping to turn that attention and pressure into a positive for the rest of the season as they aim for promotion from the National League.
"To have this nationwide exposure is great for everybody,” said Cowley, who joined the club last summer following impressive spells with Braintree Town and Concord Rangers in his native Essex.
“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.
"As a group, we're used to playing in big games now, we've had a few this season and played in front of the cameras already this season.
"This is why this one is so good for us because it's put us in this pressurised moment and if we want to get to where we want to go, we're going to have lots more pressurised moments.
“The more you're exposed to it as individuals and as a collective group, the better you can deal with it.
"So it's a great night to be associated with the football club and a great night for us to play in front of a worldwide audience.
"We just want the very best version of Lincoln City. Whether you're a manager, a player, backroom staff or a supporter, it's a fantastic club and I shout it from the rooftops as often as I can and it's a good opportunity to show that.”
Cowley is under no illusions of the task his players face though, with Mick McCarthy’s team currently sitting mid-table in the second tier and eyeing up a fourth round tie at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
"There's no doubt we are going to see a better version of Ipswich, you will see a more focused Ipswich," added Cowley, whose side currently lead the National League and also find themselves in the last 16 of the Buildbase FA Trophy.
"They're a Championship team, they have Championship-quality players so they have lots of players that we need to be aware of and we are aware of, so we'll work hard to do our best to stop them.
"But at the same time, we won't fill our heads completely with them as we've got to go and play ourselves.
"I thought we got the balance right in the first game in terms of having a game plan to stop them but also playing ourselves and asking questions of them.”
