Michael Skubala was in a buoyant mood after shaking off the supposed Christmas curse to register Lincoln City’s first Boxing Day win on the road in 22 years.
In 2003, a Paul Mayo penalty defeated Boston United at York Street, and while Boston were pegged back at York City yesterday, we laid the ghosts of many Boxing Day pasts to rest with a late penalty of our own to beat Stockport County.
Rob Street’s trike gave City a deserved win after a great display, eased along by Reeco Hackett’s fifth league goal of the season. The winger is in outstanding form, but this was his first away goal of the season and, as our head coach explained, one that came at a tough opponent.
“This is a really tough place to come and get three points, but our performance today was superb,” said Michael.
“I thought we were great in the first half. Definitely up 1-0 and deserved it, probably could have gone two with a couple of moments. Then we had a wobble second half where they get the penalty, but what I really liked is how we grew back into it and started to get control of the game.
“In the end, we deserved it.”
It wasn’t all our game, as expected from a big hitter with a budget to match their aspirations. Jayden Fevrier’s leveller just after half time had the home crowd signing loud, and what followed was ten minutes of control for the Hatters, without a second goal.
Michael believes it is those moments, as much as anything, that underline where we’re getting it right this season.
“I think we’re showing resilience in the moments when they’re having their moment, if that makes sense. When they’re having their 10 or 15 minutes, we’re getting together, we’re managing that really well, and then we’re growing back into it.
“The group’s still learning, the group’s still progressing, we’re managing those situations with confidence. Once we’ve grown back into the game, we can get back on top of it. We made some changes that were really attacking to try and go and get that second goal.
“In the end, the three points is definitely deserved.”
With a 1.86 xG for the home side and 1.9 for us, there wasn’t a whole lot in it. However, ours was far more cumulative, coming from 19 shots, rather than 10, which outlines a narrative of us putting volume on the opposition – knocking at the door incessently until they let us in.
It’s now a quick turnaround for the trip to Barnsley, a team we have beaten twice this season and who were turned over at home by a Mansfield Town side so depleted they couldn’t even field a full bench yesterday.
Can City keep the run going?
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