Wigan inflict damage on the Imps’ hopes of reaching play-offs
MICHAEL Skubala could not hide his disappointment with the defeat against Wigan Athletic on Saturday which ended Lincoln City’s mammoth 16-game unbeaten run.
The Imps had three goals disallowed as their unbeaten run, which stretched back to New Year’s Day, was ended by the Latics at Sincil Bank.
Danny Mandroiu’s spectacular strike levelled the scores before the half-time break after Jonny Smith gave the visitors a first-half lead.
Although the Imps saw three goals disallowed, Charlie Hughes’ late strike sealed the win for Wigan.
The defeat meant Lincoln’s late surge for the play-offs took a hit, but the fact that they are even in with a shout of the play-offs is quite an achievement considering where they were at the turn of the year.
That does not mean Skubala and his players were not disappointed to see Saturday’s game unfold as it did.
He said: “We’re gutted because we know we wanted to keep trying to win. We wanted to throw everything at them. We started really slowly.
“We got into the ascendancy but we couldn’t get that second goal. These lads give everything. There’s nothing prouder than this run. We’re creaking a little bit because we haven’t got the numbers really.
“We had somebody come and give us the Peterborough score, so we decided to give it everything. We were happy to risk it to try and get another goal.
“We’ve been hurt because we’re trying to risk it to try and win the game. We’re gutted. The lads are distraught. We didn’t start like ourselves. We were nervous, we were tentative.
“The last 20 minutes we were ourselves and aggressive. It was the first time I’ve seen some nerves in the group. But it’s new to us. It’s understandable.”