August 28, 2019 1.46 pm This story is over 55 months old

Will Toffees come unstuck in cup clash against the Imps?

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Everton Manager Marco Silva is in Lincoln with the team ahead of the match. They're staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Premier League giants and former League Cup runners-up Everton will not take opponents Lincoln City lightly when the two meet at Sincil Bank on Wednesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

The two sides previously met in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2019 with the Toffees beating the Imps 2-1, so Everton manager Marco Silva knows it could be another tough encounter in Wednesday’s sell-out clash in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup.

The match will be broadcast live from 7.30pm on Sky Sports Football.

Lincoln and Everton managers Danny Cowley and Marco Silva. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite/Everton FC

Everton, who were runners-up in the 1977 and 1984 League Cup finals, have had a mixed start to their Premier League season with one win, one draw and one defeat.

Lincoln began life in League One with three consecutive wins and two defeats, as well as knocking former Premier League side Huddersfield out in the First Round one of the Carabao Cup earlier this month.

In an interview with EvertonTV, Silva said: “I am 100% sure they [Everton’s players] will go into the match knowing everything about Lincoln.

“We will do the same for Lincoln [as for any opponent]. Nothing changes in our day, nothing changes in our focus. We will have full focus on the match. Everything the players need to know, they will know.

“Then it is up to us to do our best, to show our quality… to respect ourselves and our opponents. They are living a dream, playing against a Premier League club like Everton, and will play with 100% commitment.

“We have to equal everything they do. If you cannot do more, equalise their commitment, their desire, and then put our quality on the pitch.

“If we apply our quality, our level is different – but we have to be able to show it. We have big ambition to go through and play in this competition. Now this is the first moment for us to show that.”

Lincoln are no stranger to cup runs. During managers Danny and Nicky Cowley’s first season in charge (2016/17) the Imps became the first non-league side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

The cup run included beating Ipswich and Brighton, who at the time were both in the Championship, and Premier League outfit Burnley before eventually losing at Arsenal.

Danny Cowley said in an interview on Lincoln City’s club website: “We are looking forward to the challenge ahead of us, you always learn against the best players and best teams.

“It will be a real test for us, there is no hiding from that but we are really excited about the test Everton will provide.”