Local rivals Lincoln and Scunthorpe are going head-to-head in the quest for a place in the Third Division play-off final and, ultimately, a place in Division Two next season - starting with the first leg of the semi finals at Sincil Bank. Here, Lawrie Madden gets the views of the respective managers; Keith Alexander of Lincoln and Brian Laws of Scunthorpe. We kick off with the Imps boss who has led Lincoln to the brink of promotion in his first full season as manager….
Q. Are you surprised that you are in the play-offs?
A. Being honest, yes. I thought it would take longer for us to get this far and, really, we have over-achieved and I believe that we are ahead of schedule. So all credit to everyone at the club.
Q. Now that you are here how do you rate your chances?
A. It will be tight. It is a local derby and they are normally tight affairs at the best of times, irrespective of league position. The main thing is to be defensively sound and to make sure the second tie is still alive.
Q. Would you say you are the underdogs?
A. Well, it's fair to say that they have players who have more experience than us while we have achieved more than we have expected. I am relaxed about the games to be honest. I was uptight and nervous in our last game against Torquay when we needed a point to get into the play-offs, and so were the players, but now I feel we have already achieved something.
Q. Is it pretty much a whole new experience for most of your lads?
A. Most of them come from non league football and are earning not a lot of money, certainly less than any other team in this position. Having said that my players keep surprising me. A few weeks ago we lost a few games and dropped to 12th place and it looked like we would miss out but we came back. Every time we look as if we are out of it we seem to find something and that has happened all season.
Q. How much would it mean for you personally?
A. I live in the town with my family, and my kids have been raised here, so it would mean a lot. I live ten minutes away from the ground. I have been living here for 12 years and this is the first time I have managed the club on my doorstep so it means a lot to me.
Q. Much has been made of the direct way you play. Any comment?
A. We have a system of play which is simple to understand and it has worked for us and our football is excellent at times. Some people have criticised the way we play but that's fine, it's down to them, but I don't think we have got enough credit for what the players have achieved. The critics have spurred the players on even more so it has worked in our favour.
Q. Is every one fit for the big game?
A. Yes everyone is fit and up for it. They all want to play in this. Our defence has been good and has been the mainstay this season. We are good defensively and lively in midfield, but we don't score many goals so I'm going for it by playing three up front.
SO TO SCUNTHORPE BOSS BRIAN LAWS WHO IS RENEWING OLD ACQUAINTANCES WITH ALEXANDER AS THEY BOTH PASSED THEIR FA COACHING AWARDS ON THE SAME COURSE….
Q. Another play-off. How does this compare?
A. I am delighted to have got to the play-offs but even more delighted to have the second leg at home. It is a local derby and both games will be around 9,000 sell-outs so there is extra incentive there. If we get a good result at Lincoln then we will probably start the second leg as favourites.
Q. In the Conference play-offs the two teams that played at home in the second leg both went out. Does that throw your theory out of the window?
A. We are the in form team at the moment and finished the season on a high. We are decent at home and the players' confidence is high as well. We will have three times the amount of fans as Lincoln and that will be an advantage with the noise, plus they have inexperienced players.
Q. Do you think experience will count at this stage?
A. I do really. I have been in this situation and so have some of the players. They can bring a calmness to the games because they know what to expect over two legs because it is all about 180 minutes of football, not 90. The game is not won over one game and they will be use to hostile, noisy crowds and will not freeze.
Q. You seem confident, yet Lincoln have had the better of the exchanges in the league?
A. Yes they have. Both games were very tight - 1-0 to them at their place and 0-0 at ours. They have the worst attack but the best defence whereas we have goals in our side so I think that will be to our advantage over the two games.
Q. You are local rivals and it has got a bit heated at times this season. How come?
A. Well the two teams are rivals and have contrasting styles. Lincoln's style is not particularly pleasing on the eye but you have to give credit to them because they have achieved miracles on their budget and it is a strength of their side.
Q. Keith Alexander has a fully fit squad to select from, do you?
A. Yes, I have a clean bill of health too, although I do have a headache over which team to pick -especially up front. Carruthers has scored over 20 goals, the young lad Hayles has done well as has Paul Dalglish since he came to the club. I also have Torpey back from injury and he was scoring plenty of goals before that. I will pick a team which I think will get a result at their place.
