Winger Wes Burns sees tomorrow’s visit to Lincoln as a revenge mission after the Imps became the only side this season to inflict a home defeat on the Blues, winning 1-0 in mid-October.

He said: “There aren’t many teams that have come to Portman Road and taken points off us this season, so going to Lincoln is a big game for us.

“It’s a funny game for us because when they came to our place, they really stifled our style of play and in that sense, they did succeed in nullifying us.

“We’re doing a lot of homework, prepping for that one and trying to make sure we get the points back that they took from us.”

Burns has also spoken about the fact that he sees himself as something of a marked man with opposition teams setting out to keep him quiet, the Welshman having only scored four goals in 26 appearances in the current campaign as opposed to twice as many at the same stage last term, when he went on to finish as the club’s leading marksman with 13 in a total of 43 outings.

“I definitely feel liked a marked man,” he added. “I think in most games you can see that it’s mainly two-v-one over on the right-hand side, but I think that’s a total respect thing from other teams.

“Everyone saw last year, when we were coming down the right-hand side, whether it be me, JD [Janoi Donacien] and Chappers [Conor Chaplin] or me, JD and Sone [Aluko] — Marcus [Harness] now sometimes when he plays on the right — it was a big source of our goals.

“Teams are obviously noticing that and a lot of them do set out to nullify that, which is why we’re so prolific down the left-hand side this year now.

“It’s brilliant that obviously we have symmetrical attacking performances on either side, because if a team over-compensates on my side, Leif [Davis] is reaping the rewards on the other. Yes, I would say I’m a marked man, but to be fair it’s the ultimate respect.”

Asked about his own form this season, he continued: “I think I’m doing fine. You know, everyone’s kind of expecting me to be where I was at last year and I’ve had chats with the boss.

“I don’t think I’m a million miles from doing that. It’s just a case of last year things were falling for me and I was getting goal chances and creating assists.

“I think I’m only one assist off what I matched last year, so I’m not a million miles away.

“It’s just the consistency in my performances just needs to be a little bit more consistent. I think that last year I kind of knew what I would bring to every game and I think it’s just getting back to that consistency really.”

Burns was on target in the 3-0 home defeat of Oxford United on Boxing Day, with a superb strike just before half-time, and he was asked how it rated in comparison with others he has scored down the years in a career that has so far provided 57 goals on behalf of Bristol City, Forest Green, Oxford, Cheltenham, Aberdeen and Fleetwood.

“To be fair it was actually alright, wasn’t it?” he laughed. “I don’t think I had scored with a volley before in my career.

“It was an instinctive finish, really. The ball’s come in at an awkward height and it was pretty much ‘Can I just hook it towards goal?’ To be fair, I caught it sweet and it’s gone in so it probably ranks quite highly in my small collection of goals.”

Photos: Matchday Images

ArnieM added 08:44 - Jan 1 Good players find a way round being “ marked”.
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FrimleyBlue added 08:53 - Jan 1 Feel free to turn up for this game Wes.
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ChrisFelix added 09:06 - Jan 1 I agree 100% with Wes. But it is time our side performed like the top side they are on paper. I also don't think Plymouth are 7 points better than us, but that is where we could find ourselves later today
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Bazza8564 added 09:52 - Jan 1 Im at a loss to understand the first two comments on here, perhaps its me.... When you are double teamed the only way to break those shackles is to go wandering and swap sides, not something we do because we have such a structure through our wingbacks defensively too and swapping with Davis would weaken both flanks defensively IMO ???? And double marking there creates space elsewhere for others.... As for Wes not turning up, well ive been watching every single game since Wes arrived at the club and if there is a more wholehearted 100% guy then i've missed him. Sometimes has a blinding half followed by a slightly quieter one but ive never once thought he was hiding.....

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Cloddyseedbed added 10:34 - Jan 1 Burns hasn't been the player he was last season, yes he maybe marked and respected more this year but he seems too laid back and not up to the challenge a bit this year. Which is why he didn't make the Wales squad. I'd like to see him look to try a bit harder like he did last year in ALL games. He's an important player to us and we need all players firing on all cylinders if we are to get out of this league. It's good we have attacking options down the left this season so that helps to balance the team.

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Marinersnose added 11:32 - Jan 1 Burns was never going to replicate last season and he's identified the reason why. He was our main outlet last season and a terrific source for goals. Although this league is poor quality wise teams do their homework and have been paying Burns special attention. He has to stay positive and keep engaging defenders. When he started doing this against Oxford it lifted the team and we scored goals. I think he's actually improved defensively this season. Stay positive Wes.

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BobbyBell added 10:46 - Jan 2 When faced with a team sitting back you need movement. Players need to interchange and constantly move around pulling defenders out of position. In some games we have done that well but in others we are too static. It also helps when players run at the lines with the ball. Wolfenden has done that at times from deep and it works wonders. Basically you must unsettle the defenders in any way you can and that means that gaps appear and can be exploited. Pace, movement and quick passing. Sometimes we dally on the ball too much and end up trying impossible passes.

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