Michael Appleton is relishing the return to home soil on Saturday as the Imps welcome Tranmere Rovers for the first home league game in over eight weeks.
City’s last home league fixture was a 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury Town, but the last Saturday home league fixture was the thrilling 2-0 victory over former Premier League side, Sunderland.
The Imps and Tranmere have gone on similar pathways in recent seasons following relegation to the Non-League and quick-fire promotions in the EFL’s second tier.
Rovers’ double-promotion was spearheaded by striker James Norwood, who has since joined Ipswich Town, but Appleton still realises the threat of Micky Mellon’s side.
“They haven’t changed massively,” he said.
“They have experience in the middle of the park and have pace up top. They have changed formation a couple of times to combat the opposition.
“It will be a difficult game because they can pull a performance out the hat, and we have to make sure we are on the front and start as we did on Saturday and get the crucial first goal.”
The Imps secured a victory at Burton Albion last Saturday, which moved City four points clear of 20th-placed Rovers, but Michael admits that his focus is his own side’s results.
“If you take care of the opposition around you, you don’t have to look at other results.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to pull away from the likes of Tranmere. We want to put ourselves in a position where we can start looking up rather than worrying what’s behind us.”
A crowd of over 8,500 is expected at the inaugural fixture under the new LNER Stadium name, and Michael is excited by the proposition of playing in front of a home crowd following a run of away fixtures and Saturdays without fixtures.
“I won’t be surprised if the place is rocking come Saturday. Everyone has missed a Saturday home league game here.
“Hopefully everyone will bring their singing voices and get behind the players as we aim to make it back-to-back wins.”
Purchase tickets for Saturday's fixture here.
