Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy was happy to praise the Imps in the wake of our 2-1 victory at the Bank this weekend.
It was an afternoon where patience, physicality and game management prevailed, and where a young visiting side left Lincolnshire having learned some hard lessons.
From the outset, Cardiff enjoyed plenty of the ball, particularly in the first half, but City were comfortable allowing that dominance in non-threatening areas. The Imps stayed compact and trusted the structure, content to wait for the moments that mattered.
Those moments arrived on either side of the break. City went in front just before half-time, were pegged back by a stunning equaliser from Perry Ng, then regained the lead when Sonny Bradley powered home in the 67th minute. From there, it became a test of nerve and nous, one that Michael Skubala’s side passed with authority.
Speaking after the game, Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy admitted his players were taught a lesson in how to chase a match.
“There were many parts of the game I was hugely pleased with,” he said. “But the most significant part of the game we will improve on is how we chase the game. They made good substitutions and imposed their physicality on us at the end of the game.
“We have a very young group of players who will learn so much from that, in terms of how we chase the game, based on whatever scoreline we are facing.”
That assessment felt fair. Cardiff moved the ball well, particularly in the mid-stages of the first half and the first 15 of the second, but were repeatedly funnelled into areas where Lincoln could defend comfortably. The Imps restricted space between the lines and forced the visitors wide, ensuring possession did not translate into clear-cut chances.
It was a workmanlike performance from City, punctuated by moments of danger both on the break, and as we looked to turn the screw after the second goal. Barry-Murphy acknowledged that balance, praising his own side’s approach while also crediting the hosts for their discipline.
“It’s a very disappointing result for us,” he added. “The players played a really good game for us, dominated the first half but didn’t create a lot of chances. Credit to Lincoln for how little they restricted us to.
“But there were spells in the second half where we played as well as we have for a long time. The goal was a real sign of that, so good. We were looking to kick on, but that second goal just knocks us a little bit and credit to Lincoln for stepping on the gas later on.”
The win lifts the Imps into second place, with Bradford City losing. It also offers a seven-point cushion between Huddersfield and us in seventh, and a nice little Christmas present for supporters at the Bank.
As for Cardiff, they remain top, with a game in hand, and so the result isn’t as damaging as it might seem. That said, respect to Barry-Murphy for an honest assessment. As another manager who has come to the Bank and got nothing, he could have been bitter, but wasn’t at all.
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