Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen has praised the club’s travelling supporters following the 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, admitting that disappointing them hurts him and fellow head coach Tom Shaw.
The Imps were backed by a vocal away following at Loftus Road, with many supporters making their first trip to the famous old ground to watch City in Championship action. However, despite Dom Jefferies cancelling out Richard Kone’s opener, Glen Kamara’s late winner ensured the travelling fans returned to Lincolnshire without a point.
The defeat was City’s third in succession, and speaking after the game, Chris explained how much the travelling support means to everyone at the club, particularly given the sacrifices supporters make to follow the team.
“We’re always in awe of them,” he said.
“We appreciate them so much. We appreciate the volume of people that come down and are spending their hard-earned money.
“And as I said, that’s why this hurts us so much. Hurts me and Tom as much as anyone, but the most out of anyone, because we’ve given the supporters, we’ve helped give the supporters as a football club, days they’ll remember for the rest of their lives and we want to consistently do that.
“So the first opportunity to come to Loftus Road, the goal at the start of the week, or the goal from Wednesday onwards, was how can we give them a day, a memory that they’ll remember for a long time?
“And as I said, when our performance ain’t quite what it can be, it hurts. It hurts us and we’ll go away, think about it and keep trying to give them these incredible experiences.”
However, Chris was also keen to emphasise that he believes the squad has already demonstrated that it can compete with the division’s established sides. He acknowledged the frustration among supporters following three successive defeats, but insisted that the coaching staff share those concerns and remain determined to continue the club’s remarkable journey.
“But alongside that, we deserve to be in the league. We got 103 points last year. We deserve to be.
“It’s nice the way everyone talks about us and everyone’s really endearing towards us in terms of the effort, the application.
“I know, me and Tom know, when we hit our levels, we are a match and can go beyond anyone in the league.
“We have to find a way to do that and we have to find a way to do it better than we have this week.
“But supporters are incredible as always, always back us. And even when they’re frustrated, a lot of the time I agree with them as well.
“So they’re very knowledgeable, very understanding, very passionate. And as I said, we’ll do everything we can to continue this amazing journey that we’re on.”
With the international break now offering an opportunity to regroup, Chris and Tom will be looking to restore the performances that have given supporters so many memorable afternoons in recent seasons.
For those who travelled to Loftus Road, the hope will be that the next Championship away day delivers the sort of experience that has become synonymous with City’s remarkable rise.
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