GOALKEEPING coach Andy Dibble has put Accrington Stanley on air raid alert.

The former Wales and Manchester City stopper knows the Reds are in for a tough time at Lincoln City tonight, but not just because of the perennial promotion contender's style on the pitch.

Dibble has warned of the Red Imps' infamous distraction tactic when the opposition are defending set pieces.

"Knowing my last few visits to Lincoln it's going to be a tough test. But I'm not talking about football - I'm talking about air-raid bombardment," he said.

"The last time I went was with Wrexham about three or four years ago in the season we got promoted. At every corner and free kick there was an air raid siren going off.

"That was how much they wanted to intimidate the opposition.

"I don't know whether it's changed, but while Keith Alexander was the manager there, it was like that. The sirens meant bombardment - only one way!

"It can sometimes put a bit of pressure on people so it will be interesting to see if it's still happening."

The air raid siren has yet to be used at Sincil Bank this season, but with Lincoln still searching for their first home league win of the new campaign, Dibble wouldn't be surprised if it made an unwelcome return tonight.

But with or without an ear-piercing drone, Dibble has urged Stanley to be switched on at set pieces after slip-ups against Chester, Darlington and Rochdale cost them goals, and points.

"Whenever you go to Lincoln anyway it's a tough game. It's always a hard place to go - a very intimidating place - and they're a direct team and have a lot of big lads in the team.

"They are always there or thereabouts (at the end of the season) and they're up there in the table already.

"But you can't read too much into where they are and where we are.

"There are always ifs and buts. Against Stockport we conceded a sloppy goal early on but we were the better team and had three or four clear-cut chances. If they had gone in it would have been a different game and two more points. Last Saturday, if another chance had gone in there it would have been another two points.

"We've got to look to score more goals and keep clean sheets."

But Dibble admits he has been impressed with the way the squad has adapted to League Two after winning the Conference title, particularly with the way they have stood up to the physical challenges.

"I think every game you go into you have to weather the storm and then try to play your football," he said. "I think we have grown in stature as the games have gone by.

"We're pleased with the way we're improving. But coming up against some of these teams it's about winning the battle early on then getting the ball down and playing football.

"Even in the first game against Chester, I wouldn't say they were a particularly pretty side but they got the ball forward quickly and played in the last third of the field.

"We've got to be strong enough to deal with that.

"Since I've been at Accrington since the beginning of last season I'm delighted with the way the lads play football.

"I know I'm the goalkeeping coach but I can see they have a nice brand of football. But you've got to earn the right to play it first."