Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala spoke to the media following his side’s 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Skubala highlighted his disappointment with the Imps’ performance, and said: “I thought we were good in the first half, I thought we got the ball in the box and got around the sides of them. We made them defend and were effective playing through them quick.
“Second half we didn’t look like us. We didn’t put them under enough pressure and then it felt like Harrogate, we were caught on the counter and then we’re chasing them.”
He didn’t feel changes helped the team either, adding: “Sometimes it’s the nature of changes and new bodies being on there. It dislodges the rhythm a little bit and I thought we didn’t get to the levels in the second half that we did the first half.
“Maybe the word ruthless, I think we lacked that.” – Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala
There were positives for Skubala to take from the game, however. Wing-back Erik Ring made his first appearance for the side, playing 60 minutes.
“I thought he did well, that’s the challenge. He looked good in parts and he’s still getting used to the way we want to play. In the first half he looked aggressive and exciting, but he started to tire in the second half. He’s not had many minutes and he felt it in his legs which is why we made the change,” the Imps boss said.
Skubala said Lincoln still need to help “build” Ring up to where he needs to be, adding: “He’ll do well here, I thought he won aerial duels well he defended well we know his speed but its going to take time for him to get there.”
Minutes for Montsma, Gallagher and More:
Lewis Montsma also managed to get a full 90 minutes under his belt, which Skubala was happy about.
“It’s pleasing. Lewis has been in training a lot and this is a good competition to get 90 minutes. He’s not got through 90 before so this is his first competitive 90 in league or competition. So, it’s really good for him to get that as well,” he said.
Oisin Gallagher made a return from his loan at Peterborough Sports to play for his parent club in the BSM Trophy fixture.
Skubala said: “To get Oisin on the pitch and experience a League Two football team, they started to bring some seniors on as well so it’s good for him to have a feel and that’s part of the development.
“It can get a bit clunky when you have so many players coming in and coming in different positions to what they are used to. I didn’t feel it was clunky in the first half, but I definitely felt it in the second half.
“It isn’t through lack of effort, it’s through cohesion.”
Injury Troubles and the International Break:
Skubala was quizzed on injury news, as a number of City players remain on the sidelines. He provided some good news, and said: “Conor [McGrandles] had a bit of a niggle, but we should be able to get him back in if we have no more setbacks.
However, he added: “Reeco [Hackett] had another setback but nothing major, we thought he’d be closer. But, Tyler [Walker] and [Ethan] Hamilton are still some way off.”
Lincoln are without a game this weekend due to international call-ups, next travelling to Peterborough United on Saturday, September 14.
The Imps head coach said: “We’ve got work to do. We’ll be in, might have a few days off then back in so it’s not going to be 10 days off at all. We’ve got to get in, work and make sure we keep working on the final third, and how we keep calm when we get there.”