Day 98

For the third time this season, the Lincoln board is expecting a "record low" turnout. Just 2,000 people are expected to show for a clash between two of the biggest clubs—us and Fleetwood—in the Conference League.

I really don't understand this. We're going from strength to strength on the pitch. Second in the league, with 2.2 goals a game, unbeaten in seven matches. Fleetwood are underachieving in 11th, but they've got a strong squad of emerging stars—the second highest-paid team in the league. Why do our attendances struggle so dearly?

Anyway, we're being touted as "comfortable favourites" to win. At 4-7 odds for a win, 5-2 for a draw, and 4-1 for a loss, I don't know that I'd phrase it quite that way. Especially with the problem we're having with our left wingers dropping like flies.

Looking to tomorrow's match, there may be changes beyond the one that is necessary. Bore looks exhausted. I'm considering resting him, but I'm not sure how I'd feel about putting Robson in from the start. Nutter, Christophe, and Park all have question marks hanging over their fitness. And it appears that Simon Russell won't be ready to return from injury.

If Russell's still out and Park isn't fit to start, that complicates matters. Shuker may need to play on the left. Youngster Robert Taylor is busy on international duty, so if Shuker plays on the left, Koroma will need to play out of position on the right wing. And there's no way I'm fielding two weak full backs, if Nutter and Bore need a rest—yet Nicolau and Robson are the only other full backs available.