Season to believe for Appleton
MICHAEL APPLETON felt his Lincoln players showed they can be a team for all seasons as they edged out Northampton.
Substitute Conor McGrandles and Anthony Scully struck in the final 15 minutes as the Imps eventually saw off the visitors, who looked a different team to the one thrashed 4-0 by Lincoln a month ago.
The Cobblers pulled a goal back with the last action of the game with a sublime overhead kick from Danny Rose.
The win saw Lincoln stay level on points with leaders Hull.
And although the hosts weren’t at their swashbuckling best, boss Appleton was still pleased with what he saw against Keith Curle’s side.
“We’ve spoken many times about being a team for all seasons and finding different ways to win games,” Appleton said.
“There was nothing in it in the first half but in the second half I was delighted with the way we went about it.
“We created some really good opportunities before we scored. You felt Curle could take plenty it was going to be one of from his side’s those days but, once we performance. went ahead, I was fairly “I thought we started confident we very well and would see the credit to the game out.” new lads
It was Lincoln’s because they first didn’t look game since out of place at January 12 all,” he said. and Appleton “We used felt his side the ball very looked a little well and it rusty early was a case of on. fine margins
“I think we looked like that went against us in a side, in the first 20 minutes, terms of our decisions who hadn’t played with the ball. for 20 days or so,” he said. “Sam Hoskins had a
“We did the basics well speculative effort that hit in that early period. We the post [at 2-0] and had didn’t do anything more that gone in we could than that as we gave the have picked up a ball away, which is unlike deserved point. us. “They didn’t really open
“But, once we got us up other than the two through that period, in goals they scored. the second half, we “It was a credible showed some really good performance from us movement and bits of against a side who tend to play.” dominate possession
Despite the defeat, and play.”
LINCOLN: Palmer 7, Eyoma 7, Jackson 7, Walsh 7, Edun 8 (Melbourne 90), Bridcutt 7, Grant 7, Johnson 7, Scully 7 (Anderson 90), Hopper 7, Rogers 6 (McGrandles 67, 7).
Long, Jones, Howarth.
Mitchell 6; Harriman 7, Bolger 8, Jones 7, Mills 7, McWilliams 7, Morris 7, Sowerby 7 (Ashley-Seal 62, 6); Hoskins 7, Edmondson 6 (Rose 85), Miller 6 (Korboa 35, 6). Horsfall, Watson, Chukwuemeka.
Tayo Edun. An all-action display from the full-back who sent in the cross for Lincoln’s first goal.
REFEREE: Anthony Backhouse 7.