Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala admitted his side should have done better as they opened their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Chesterfield at the LNER Stadium.
The Imps made multiple changes to the site that beat Stevenage 1-0 at the weekend, with their visitors making a similar amount following their defeat against Gillingham.
The home side started brightly, with Freddie Draper having the first attempt at a goal following a slick link-up between Tom Bayliss and Dylan Duffy down the left. City’s defence also held firm early on, with Paudie O’Connor making a crucial last-ditch block after Connor Cook was played through on goal.
Jack Moylan forced a save from Chesterfield’s keeper after Rob Street set him up, but his shot was tipped over the bar. City continued to press, with Tom Hamer’s volley blocked by a Chesterfield defender. The Imps thought they had taken the lead when Street fired across the box, but a Chesterfield defender deflected the ball into the net, only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.
In the second half, Lewis Montsma had an early chance after the ball fell loose in the box, but his shot sailed over the bar. Erik Ring caused problems down the right, finding Moylan in the area, but the forward placed his shot wide.
Chesterfield then took the lead against the run of play, with Connor Cook capitalising on a deflected pass to score. The Spireites had little of the ball up to that point, but a smart break saw Zack Jeacock make a save, only for the ball to fall to the manager’s son Cook, who made no mistake.
Despite Lincoln piling on the pressure late in the game, including winning a free-kick just outside the area, they were unable to find a breakthrough, and Chesterfield held on for the win. That left Skubala to reflect on what might have been, and he conceded his side were just not good enough on the night.
“We had enough on the pitch to win the game. They (Chesterfield) came with not the strongest team either so we should have done better really,” said the former Leeds United coach.
“I thought in the first half we played well, putting the ball into the box, making them defend, and getting around their sides. We were effective and moved the ball through them very quickly.
“In the second half, we didn’t look like ourselves. We had some possession but didn’t put them under enough pressure. It felt like the game against Harrogate (in the Carabao Cup), where we were caught on the counter-attack and ended up chasing, which made us lose our identity and the way we want to play.”
The Imps have had a decent start to the season, winning three of their four league matches, including a resounding 4-1 victory against Mansfield Town. However, they have lost three in all competitions, with defeats against Harrogate and now Chesterfield against lower league opposition at home.
Writer’s View
The Imps should have had this wrapped up by half time, such was their dominance in the first half. They just lacked the final ball at times, and when debutant Erik Ring did whip a nice ball in, the strikers were not on the end of it. It wasn’t a bad performance in the first half, and it felt like a goal was only a matter of time.
City have defended well in 2024 – they have conceded fewer league goals than any team across the EFL, but they were opened up like a tin of beans for Chesterfield’s winner. After that, the Spireites were able to restrict their hosts to pot shots.
It won’t be panic stations, but manager Skubala has now had three cup ties in the dugout for the Imps, and lost all three against League Two opposition. Food for thought, no doubt.
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