Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala admitted he was “disappointed” to not take all three points from the visit of Wigan Athletic.
The goalless draw stretched the Imps unbeaten league run to four games, despite a mostly lacklustre performance.
Speaking after the game, Skubala said: “I think one goal would have won it for either side, but we just didn’t quite break the deadlock and neither did they. Second-half we didn’t feel under threat, and I’m sure that they did, but we just didn’t have that final action, in the final moment.”
Lincoln struggled to create any clear cut chances during the game, while the visiting Latics themselves did not have much in the attacking third. Thelo Aasgaard’s woodwork-hitting header was the closest either team got to opening the scoring.
The head coach added: “I thought it was a game of two halves for us really. We started slow in the first-half, I don’t think we got into our rhythm, and I didn’t think we dominated them. I think they had the better of the first-half.
“And then, I think in the second-half, we were the ones trying to win it. We were the ones trying to get the goal. We had flashes across the box, we hot shots, we had moments in their box, but just lacking that final ball, final action.
Lincoln relied on long-balls throughout the game, with Skubala reasoning that it is about finding “different ways” to create goals.
Defensively Solid:
At the other end of the pitch, City remained strong defensively. Lincoln recorded their second clean sheet of the season, with the other coming in their dramatic win away to Stevenage.
“Defensively, we were solid. And, we were set up to be solid. But, in moments in the first-half we were too passive, we were dropping too low, and the quality on the ball in the turnover wasn’t there. But, in the second-half, we were aggressive, we were front-footed, we were driving to drive the game,” Skubala said.
Full Debut for Bailey Cadamarteri:
The headline team news was a full debut for Sheffield Wednesday loanee Bailey Cadamarteri. The striker has featured as a substitute, but made his first start as City’s number nine.
Skubala assessed his performance, and said: “He’s been working really hard in training, and I think in moments he looked lively, and in moments he looked quick. I think he will only get better, and he is just getting used to the way we play, and to League One.”
The 19-year-old was replaced by Jovon Makama in the second 45, as he continues to adjust to life in Lincolnshire.
“I think we should’ve got more out of the second-half. I don’t think we deserved more from the first-half. If you look at it in two halves, I think a draw is fair.”
“One Goal Would Have Been Enough”:
The former Leeds United under-21s chief believed a single goal would have been enough to take the full points in front of the TV cameras.
He said: “I think one goal would have won it for either side, but we just didn’t quite break the deadlock and neither did they. Second-half we didn’t feel under threat, and I’m sure that they did, but we just didn’t have that final action, in the final moment.
“We wanted to win this, second-half we wanted to go after the game, we pushed the game. We got midfielders on, Erik Ring on, wide players on, so we were trying to chase the game. We definitely wanted to win it, but in the end I don’t think we did enough.”
Lincoln City will travel to Cambridge United next Saturday, in the first of two back-to-back away trips.
Feature Image Credit: Graham Burrell