David Holdsworth has refused to criticise his players, despite their defeat at home to Luton Town.

Holdsworth defended his goalkeeper, Paul Farman, despite being at fault for the goals. He said: “I’m not going to question Paul. He has been a good goalie for this football club. He put his hand up straight away.”

He continued: “I can’t criticise any of the players. Credit to the opposition, but we can’t give soft goals away. We had a lot of play and we have to turn that in to goals. Those tiny little things have been expensive. The players got punished for two miniscule errors.”

The Imps started the match with just one striker, Jamie Taylor, and Holdsworth explained why: “We don’t have a targetman so we played a different formation today. But we played some excellent football. We kept the ball on the base.

“We wanted to get David Morgan on the ball and we felt we did. We don’t have an out-and-out target man so we tried to elevate Mo Fofana in that area.”

Discussing Jamie Taylor’s spectacular consolation strike, Holdsworth expressed his delight: “It was a lovely goal. I’m pleased for Jamie that he got the goal.”

Looking ahead to their next match, the Imps boss revealed that loan signing, David Morgan would be going on international duty with Ireland. He also added that debutant, Peter Gilbert “had a solid game.”

Gilbert also spoke after the match. He was also upbeat despite a losing debut. He said: “The character of the lads has been absolutely fantastic. The lads work ethic was fantastic. They really took it to Luton.

“No one can point the finger and say the effort wasn’t there. You have to realise where Luton are and where Lincoln are [in the league].”

The former Sheffield Wednesday defender admitted he was “definitely thrown in the deep end” as it was his first game in a long time. He said: “We have to fight on. Once we get a couple of results, I’m sure we can get more results.

“I felt it went reasonably well. It was obviously going to be difficult. I’m gutted we didn’t get a result.”

Lincoln City’s next match is away to Mansfield Town on Tuesday, October 9th.