Jack Moylan spoke to the media after he scored the winning penalty in Lincoln City’s victory over Stevenage.
He said: “It was exactly what we expected, I think everyone knows coming here it’s never going to be easy and then you might get a half chance to win the game.
“It’s a mental way to play football in my opinion but it works for them, it’s the way they do things. That’s the thing about this league, there’s loads of variations of teams and you have to adapt to it and we’re good at that.”
During the hard-fought win, Paudie O’Connor was a standout for Lincoln. On his captain, Moylan said: “One of the best players I’ve ever played with, and I tell him every day. He probably thinks I’m messing with him, but he’s unreal and it comes from him, [Adam Jackson] and the keeper, if they’re lifting the whole team it follows through.”
However, O’Connor was sent off deep into stoppage time for a second bookable offence.
On the controversial late sending off, Moylan said: “I think it was just a coming together, I think it’s the wrong decision, it’s the 96th minute. I won’t comment on referees, but he doesn’t need to make it.”
A Better Second-Half, Selection Headaches, and Penalties:
After a quiet first half, Moylan’s own performance improved significantly in the second-half, becoming instrumental in most of the good things Lincoln did.
He was quizzed on his first-half struggles, and what changed at half time, explaining: “I think it was a case of the whole situation, you come to Stevenage they had the wind and were launching balls on us. It’s not a game to try things, you just need to be patient. People might not see it but there was a massive wind the ball is travelling a lot further than it should. Second half, the more the game grows the more influential players can get on the ball.”
Moylan has had to be patient for a chance this season after finishing the last campaign in fine form, but will give Michael Skubala a selection headache as he capped his first league start with a goal.
He said: “It is frustrating, and I’d never hide my frustration, I think it’s good to show you’re angry and if you’re not in the team and don’t want to be playing every week you’re in the wrong sport and you’re at the wrong club.
“Last year it showed around the October to January time we struggled bit because of numbers, but this year we’ll have a proper squad to go the whole way through.”
Moylan also spoke about the pressure of taking a spot-kick. The 22-year-old said: “Penos’ are different, there’s skill, there’s a bit of nerves to it but standing over the ball you have to believe you’re going to score so I enjoyed it.”
The Irishman also discussed Lincoln City’s positive start to a season as a whole, concluding: “The games are gone, we’ve got to keep building and it’s a long, long season in this league so you’ve got to keep winning games.”
Finally, Moylan had time to talk about his good friend and teammate Sean Roughan. His fellow countryman made his 100th appearance for Lincoln City in the game against Stevenage.
“He’s unbelievable he’s such a good player and such a good roommate back home. I’m so happy he’s got 100 as I think he’s the only one in the squad that has it and he’s only 21 so it’s an unbelievable achievement and has an unbelievable career ahead of him,” Moylan said.
Lincoln return to action on Tuesday, September 3, against Chesterfield in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Feature Image Credit: Graham Burrell