Exclusive: Danny Cowley on Sunderland manager's job, Lee Johnson and Lincoln City clash

Michael Appleton brings his Imps side to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night with the prize of another trip to Wembley on offer for the winners.

Cheers on the bid for Wembley with us – join the Echo for our semi-final Watch Party

Lincoln top the League One table after a superb first half of the campaign, while Sunderland's stunning 4-1 win over promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers on Saturday saw them stay well in the promotion hunt.

Cowley will be a keen observer of the semi-final. He held talks with the Sunderland hierarchy in November about replacing Phil Parkinson as manager before Lee Johnson got the job, and he and his brother Nicky still live in Lincoln, close to the club they guided up through the divisions and to a first Wembley appearance in their history during a three-year spell.

Out of work since leaving Huddersfield at the end of last season, the 42-year-old has taken in scores of games as he bides his time before picking the right role to return to management in.

He said: "I must have watched Sunderland 20 times this season, and similar with Lincoln.

"Both managers will want to win the game but their main focus is the league so it will be interesting to see what teams they put out. Michael Appleton has a couple of players cup tied. He changed his full-backs at the weekend against Accrington and it probably didn't work so I would expect TJ (Eyoma) and Tayo Edun to come back in and they'll play 4-3-3.

"Liam Bridcutt being injured is a big miss. He makes them tick, provides leadership and gives them protection in stopping counter-attacks as well as getting attacks going. Their midfield three doesn't function quite as well without him, though I still think Jorge Grant, who we signed from Forest, is the best midfielder in the league. And Tom Hopper up front is the one who is underrated, he's a great No 9.

"But talking of No 9s, I watched the Sunderland game on Saturday and Charlie Wyke was brilliant, not just with his goals but his hold-up play too.

"You need to set him up for success – look at his profile and play to his strengths, get crosses in the box. Him and Aiden McGeady are a natural partnership.

"McGeady was unbelievable. He's building a lovely relationship with Wyke.

"Lee has got him back involved and it's like having a new signing. Someone like Aiden is always worth managing for what they bring, but it's also about managing the other players around him.

"I can imagine Michael Appleton's team talk will be how to stop the supply line, how to stop the ball into McGeady, and then when he does get it, getting two players around him. That though could leave opportunities elsewhere on the other flank for Sunderland.”

Johnson has already tasted success against Lincoln, with a 4-0 win at Sincil Bank in his third game in charge of Sunderland one of the highlights of his tenure so far.

Cowley believes the Stadium of LIght fixture could be a completely different game, however.

"I watched Sunderland v Lincoln earlier in the season just after Lee took over,” he said. “Lincoln had a couple of good opportunities on the counter attack and if they had gone in it could have been very different, but it was an outstanding overall performance from Sunderland.

"Lincoln will want to respond and it's set up for a really good game. Lincoln have been good away from home and are dangerous on the counter-attack.

"For Sunderland, up until the Doncaster game, they've found it more difficult at home and teams will always raise their game coming to the Stadium of Light, and not having the benefit of supporters in will have an effect."

Sunderland reached Wembley twice in 2019, losing on both occasions, firstly in the EFL Trophy on penalties against Portsmouth and then in the play-off final against Charlton Athletic.

Cheers on the bid for Wembley with us – join the Echo for our semi-final Watch Party

Lincoln's only Wembley appearance came in 2018 when Cowley led them to a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury in the EFL Trophy Final.

And while fans are unlikely to be allowed in to the final this year, Cowley says it is still important for supporters and the clubs.

"I love the competition," he said. "It's great for lower league clubs. Some supporters won't like it, with teams bringing their U23s into it, but it's great to see young players playing competitive football and the context of that.

"It's a competition that you can actually win which is the only one for League One and League Two clubs. We always wanted to give it good energy and focus on it.

"We loved our journey with Lincoln, getting to Wembley for the first time in 134 years. Our FA Cup run that year captured the imagination of the fans but Wembley cemented that among the fans."

Had things worked out differently, Cowley could have been in the Sunderland dugout for the clash against his old club. He held talks with the Sunderland board but new sporting director Kristjaan Speakman eventually went with Johnson, and Cowley says the Black Cats are in good hands with the former Bristol City boss..

"It's a brilliant job but also a real challenge," he added. “Sunderland are a big club, a Premier League club, and should never be in League One. However, now they are, they are finding out how difficult it can be when you are in that league.

"Not being promoted will always be seen as a failure.

"Lee Johnson is someone I know very well – he's an ambitious guy and he will want to get Sunderland promoted this season.

"He did a great job at Bristol City in my opinion, and I'm sure he will do a fantastic job at Sunderland too."

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