League leaders hold no fears for Linnets

Adam Lakeland insists there will be no fear when league leaders Scunthorpe United visit in midweek.

The big-spending Iron are next up for his Lynn side having regained top spot in the National League North with a 2-0 victory over Gloucester City at the weekend.

The Linnets boss has already found a way to beat the title favourites once with Curzon Ashton this season – and is gunning for a second taste of success on Tuesday night.

He is adamant that his side will go out believing if they stick to the game plan they can take all three points.

Lakeland said: “When I was at Curzon we were the first team to beat Scunthorpe this season so they can be beaten and the lads will be told and reminded of that.

“I’d had that group for two years and we were a lot further on as a group than obviously where we are now, just in terms of the lads knowing what I expect and organisation etc.

“But you know, we’ve come a long way in a short space of time and it’s just a game of football. You can’t be afraid because if you are that’s no good to me.

“It’s about being strong and I don’t care what name is on people’s chests it’s a game of football. It’s 11 v 11 on a grass rectangle and three points but we’ve got to try to win it.

“We’ll respect them but only as much as we do every other team and we’ve got to be ready to go toe-to-toe with them.

“They’ve got great individual players, but anything can happen in a game of football and we’ve got to remember that we’ve got some very good players as well.”

The clash will see the return of former Linnets Mike Clunan, Tyler Denton and Ross Barrows to the Walks but Lakeland knows it presents Lynn with the chance of beginning another unbeaten run.

“There’s nothing better than having a game two or three days after a defeat and they don’t come any bigger than Scunthorpe,” he admitted.

“It’s a massive game, we’ll be underdogs and they’ll be massive favourites with the resources they’ve got this year and the expectation they’ve got on the squad at their disposal.”

Linnets fans are already learning that their new boss means every word of what he says. His belief is a faith built on a strong foundation and meticulous preparation for every game.

And he wants his players to relish the opportunity of a huge game under the lights at The Walks.

“That’s why we’re involved in football,” he said.

“We want big games equally, despite where we. I imagine they’ll be saying we’ve got a tough game cause we’ve got Kings Lynn.

“I’d like to think anybody who’s watched us in recent weeks sees that we’re a team that is on the up and improving.

“Of course, we’re going to still lose games of football. Just because we’re getting better it doesn’t mean we are going to win every game because that’s not how this league works.

“We’re getting harder to play against, getting more competitive and I think the mentality is growing. We’ve just got to be ready for each and every game and and I’m sure we will be.”