Lincoln City midfielder Ethan Erhahon looked ahead to next season, after the Imps missed out on a play-off spot with a final day defeat to Portsmouth.
The already crowned champions scored just after the 80th minute, before adding a second late into stoppage time, to end Lincoln’s hopes of a play-off place.
Speaking post-match, Erhahon said: “We’re really disappointed not to get the job done, it was a really, really tough game. They’re champions for a reason, you know. We kept in the game and had a couple chances ourselves, and then we go and try and give it our all, and the game comes open.”
“That’s the standards, that’s where we want to be next season,” he added.
Erhahon, who made 50 appearances this season, was presented the player of the season award on the LNER Stadium turf after the full-time whistle. He said: “It’s a great honour, I’m thankful for everyone that voted for me, and hopefully I can come back next season and do it again.”
Michael Skubala‘s men knew a win would almost certainly guarantee a play-off spot, but their defeat opened the door for Oxford United to take sixth spot instead.
Erhahon said: “We knew we needed a win, and we pushed bodies forward. Sadly when you take that risk at the back, when you leave one vs ones, twos vs twos, and we conceded a couple goals.”
Speaking to The Linc, he added: “I think if someone asked us in November, you’ve got one game against the champions, at your own place, and you’ve got to win it, then we would’ve been really confident. But, it was not meant to be today.”
Erhahon credits Lincoln City support:
Over 10,000 packed themselves into a sold-out LNER Stadium for the final game of the season. Even after Paddy Lane netted Pompey’s second, the home support stood and applauded their side.
“We’ve had great support, even when we conceded the second, it’s the loudest I’ve heard it nearly all season. It’s amazing to have that support, and it shows that they’re appreciative of the season we have had post-January. They have stuck with us every single game, home and away, it’s one of the best supports I’ve played in front of, for sure,” Erhahon said.
The 22-year-old played more minutes that any other Lincoln player this season, while only wing-back Lasse Sorensen made more appearances.
Going again next season:
The Scottish midfielder believes high pressure games like the clash with Portsmouth will help boost the Imps.
He said: “You can only take confident in games like this, when you go on runs like this, you don’t do that very often in your career, so I think if we can do that next season and have an even better start, then you don’t know where that’s going to take us.”
City had lost just once in their past 19 games before John Mousinho’s Pompey rolled into Lincolnshire. They went on a 16 game unbeaten run during that stretch, beating promotion-hopefuls Barnsley 5-1 along the way.
Erhahon said: “It’s not very often, in many people’s careers, that you go on a run like this. No matter what team you play for, or what league you’re in, so I think we have to be proud of that. We take great pride in the run we went on, and we’re just sorry that we couldn’t get the job done today.”