Lincoln City striker Ben House has refused to rule out the club’s chances at reaching the SkyBet League One play-offs, speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Speaking ahead of the Imps’ trip to promotion-chasing Barnsley, House said the up-coming clash was a “big game”, with implications for their late play-off push.
What has he said?
House said: “It’s a big game for us. I think I’ve seen people, not write us off, but they’re saying ‘Well that’s it then, next season,’ but I don’t see that attitude.”
“If we go to Barnsley and win then we’re still right in it because the results on Saturday went out way. So, we can’t be too down about the result against Stevenage, we just have to go to Barnsley and fingers crossed do the business,” he added.
Play-off picture:
Lincoln City sit eight points between Stevenage, who occupy the final play-off spot. The goalless draw between the two sides on Saturday meant the Imps were unable to make ground on their opponents, while it also meant they didn’t fall any further back.
Steve Evans’ side have played 35 games, meaning they have a game in hand on all of the chasing pack. They currently sit on 60 points.
Oxford United sit seventh on 57 points, ahead of Blackpool (56 points), Leyton Orient (54 points) and Lincoln (52 points).
House noted that results went the Imps’ way on Saturday, which they mostly did. Two of the play-off chasers lost: Leyton Orient at home to Bristol Rovers and Oxford away at league-leaders Portsmouth.
Blackpool’s 2-0 win at Shrewsbury made them the only side among the play-off chasing pack to pick up three points.
So, who will claim the last play-off spot? – Opinion
I find it hard to look past Stevenage as the team that will sit in the final play-off spot come the end of the season. Evans’ Boro are a resolute, well-drilled and defensively strong outfit.
Oxford and Blackpool are both capable teams, but I think they will just about finish below Stevenage.
As for Leyton Orient and Lincoln, I think their relative lack of goals will cost them a shot at the play-offs. Orient have scored 43 this season, the same number as they have conceded. Meanwhile, the Imps have scored just 40, even if they have picked up their goalscoring form over recent weeks.
No team inside the top 15 of League One has scored less goals than the two sides.
However, the race is by no means a boring one. The chase is still on for all four teams looking to overtake Stevenage, with the next few weeks potentially proving pivotal.