New Imps boss Skubala forced to Reid it and weep

NEW Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala says his players need to be more ‘streetwise’ after losing at Stevenage.

Jamie Reid’s 68thminute strike ensured a losing debut in the hotseat for the former Leeds United coach who has taken over from the sacked Mark Kennedy at Sincil Bank.

“We need to be a little more streetwise,” said Skubala. “Young players have to learn and learn quick. We also need to get physically stronger.”

Skubala did see some positive moments in the first half, adding: “I thought we had them on the ropes at points and if we had gone in 1-0 up at half-time, it’s a different game.

Second half, they changed it, it became a real physical battle and we got overrun.”

Lincoln’s on-loan striker Jack Vale had a shot saved early on by Taye Ashbyhammond, before home midfielder Alex Macdonald sent a rising effort just over.

The hosts were denied by a superb piece of last-ditch defending by TJ Eyoma five minutes into the second half which prevented Kane Hemmings from converting Finley Burns’ header.

Hemmings then came even closer to scoring with just over an hour played when he hit a post.

The breakthrough finally came when a scramble following sub Jake Forstercaskey’s corner led to Reid bundling in.

Stevenage manager Steve Evans wants his side to continue gatecrashing the upper regions of the table after their victory lifted them up to fourth.

Evans said: “We are that little bad apple in the barrel that no-one wants to be in that top group.

“There is only the town of Stevenage, and everyone in it, that wants us in that top group.”