Michael Appleton wants his players to show their patient side as they face two challenging games on the road.
The Imps head to Burton Albion on Saturday then Morecambe on Tuesday, and Appleton expects his team to have to dig in against both outfits.
He said: “Burton had a fantastic start then some more mixed results since, but you’ve got to be patient as Jimmy sets them up to be very hard to beat. We need to be mindful of that and not be lazy or complacent when we are on the ball.
“We are going to have to be resolute. The next two games are not going t be very free-flowing, we’re going to have to ensure we’re dogged in what we do and put our bodies on the line. Whatever XI I put out will be capable of creating chances and scoring goals.”
Injuries mean the Imps are not at full strength, but Appleton believes players such as on-loan forward Dan Ndulundu are ready to step in and make a contribution.
He added: “In training and when he came on against Ipswich, albeit only for 15 minutes, there were real signs of him really grasping what League One football is all about.
“He has the nous to run away from the balls at times and understand that the pace of the game is very different, which means at times you can’t get away from taking extra touches. It’s a great opportunity for him.”