I thought we were the better side today and should have taken something from the game with ten men, and could well have won the game with eleven. In the first half an hour our football was good and we had more pace and quality in the attacking areas than a very unimaginative Lincoln side. Even after the red card we looked comfortable and Lincoln created virtually nothing, while RHM continued to be a threat on the break with his pace. It made me smile when I read above that our keeper would need a man of the match performance to keep us in the game: Chapman barely touched the ball all afternoon and did not even have to pick the ball out of the net for Lincoln's contentious winner.
However, playing the better football and showing a good attitude can only ever take you so far when you are not ruthless in both boxes. We should have been at least one goal up by the time of the red card, but again we failed to score the opening goal when we were on top. At the other end of the pitch, we defended excellently for the majority of the match, but once again switched off momentarily and failed to keep a clean sheet. We just lack that something extra at both ends of the pitch to get us the victories we desperately need. If we don't bring in a couple of quality players in January - which will be incredibly difficult - we might well be relegated this season.
I thought the red card decision was harsh, and it was a tragedy for CBT as he had been the best player on the pitch to that point. The first booking was very harsh, for a tackle a long way from goal, and I thought a better referee would have shown common sense with a young player and given CBT a final warning after the second incident. However, it was naive of CBT to prevent a free kick being taken when he was already on a yellow, which is another example of the inexperience and naivety in the squad which has cost us a number of times this season. The age profile of the squad is not right, with too many inexperienced kids and too many old stagers, and that again largely comes down to finances.
Individually, there were a number of positives. CBT and RHM both played well and caused problems with their pace and trickery, the centre halves were solid, and Liam Ridehalgh had a very good game up against the awkward Harry Anderson. The biggest plus for me was the performance of Connor Jennings, who I think is finally starting to look comfortable at this level. In fact, I thought most players had good games, which makes the defeat very difficult to take.
A victory against Wimbledon next week is vital and would do a lot to lift spirits.