Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala was pleased with his team’s showing against Birmingham City, despite crashing out of the FA Cup.
The Imps headed to the West Midlands in poor form and having failed to win in their last four games. The FA Cup offered a welcome distraction from their League One antics, where they have recorded just one victory in their last dozen outings.
Birmingham heavily rotated their starting lineup but were given the perfect start when winger Ayumu Yokoyama gave the hosts the lead after just 32 seconds. The Blues then continued to dominate the early exchanges, but Lincoln slowly worked their way into the game.
Skubala’s side then shifted gear in the second half and were much the better of the two teams. However, Lyndon Dykes doubled the Blues’ advantage in stunning fashion with 13 minutes remaining. A penalty from Jovon Makama in the 90th minute set up an interesting finish, although Lincoln could not find the breakthrough and Birmingham stood firm to progress into the fourth round.
Skubala Sees Positives In Performance
Lincoln arguably deserved to at least take the game to extra time, but it was more of the same in front of goal. Makama’s penalty was their first goal since beating Reading on December 21st. Skubala remained upbeat after the game though, telling official club media:
“It’s a tough place to come to but we can’t start the game the way we did, conceding so early. We just got caught and then all of a sudden that made it an uphill battle.
“What I was pleased with was the character of the lads and how they kept pushing. I felt during the later stages of the first half we started to get more on top, gaining more territory and creating half-chances.
“Then in the second half I thought we looked the better team, and that’s more how I want us to look. We pushed the game and looked like we could get on top. We kept going and got a penalty and created further chances towards the end of the game.”
“When we get into the final third, we have to be more clinical when the opportunities come – whether that’s the final pass, final cross, final action or shot. We just have to keep working on it.”
Writer’s View
Lincoln are really struggling at the top end of the pitch at the moment and that really showed today. A striker is surely the priority this month whilst the transfer window remains open. It was the same last season before the arrival of Joe Taylor, with that piece of quality up front helping fire the Imps up the league table. It still remains that final piece of the jigsaw and bringing in someone who knows where the goals is could have the same effect as Taylor did a year ago.
Head of Writing
