The Lincoln City manager, Gary Simpson, has revealed he used jelly babies to get across tactical instructions to his players before Saturday’s win against Conference leaders Barnet.

The forward Ben Tomlinson tweeted a photo of the sweets positioned on top of a kit locker, along with the words “funny tactics board”.

Simpson, who appeared to line his Jelly Babies up in a 4-4-2 formation, told BBC radio Lincolnshire he resorted to desperate measures after the team bus failed to turn up, leaving players to make their own way to the match and preventing him from transporting his normal tactics board.

“It wasn’t the best situation to be in, especially when you are going to the league leaders that haven’t conceded a goal, and had got off to an absolutely unbelievable start.”