David Artell says he is looking forward to our Boxing Day fixture against Lincoln City because his side tend to play better in front of a bigger crowd. The Alex boss points to our fine 3-2 win over Tranmere Rovers as a case in point when we thoroughly deserved the three points that day in front of a crowd of over 5,000+.

Ahead of the visit of the league leaders, the boss told us: “They are all big games and the Boxing Day fixture is traditionally well supported. I am looking forward to it because our players tend to play better in front of a bigger crowd.

“They rise to the occasion and there is no better challenge for them than the league leaders at home. We played well against the MK Dons and probably deserved better and didn’t play as well against Bury and probably deserved less, so we know we can match the top sides on our day.

“We narrowly lost 1-0 at their place when it was another case of having 0-0 written all over it but they took their chance and we didn’t take ours. We have to take those chances when they are presented to us.”