Mixed feelings for Danny Cowley following Lincoln’s win against Crewe

Posted Sunday, October 07, 2018 by PA

Lincoln boss Danny Cowley was relieved to see his side return to winning ways after the Imps overcame midweek disappointment at Tranmere to beat Crewe 1-0.

Lincoln moved four points clear at the top of the League Two table after midfielder Tom Pett came off the bench to fire his side to victory.

Lee Frecklington missed a penalty for the hosts in the closing stages but that did not stop them from claiming all three points.

“I’m pleased to win, but I didn’t think we played to the standards we expect of ourselves,” Cowley said.

“If you play really well and lose as we did on Tuesday, then the art is maybe in playing not so well and winning.

“If you can’t aesthetically please the supporters then it’s important to at least make sure it’s an efficient performance.

“It’s never easy when you have back-to-back away games as we have done last Saturday and Tuesday. Quite a lot of the group played the full 180 minutes and that’s challenging in itself.

“The fact that we were able to see the game out having missed a penalty is testament to the mental strength of the group.”

A dire first half was summed up by the fact that Crewe’s Chris Porter came closest to breaking the deadlock by inadvertently heading a Lincoln corner towards his own net.

Fortunately goalkeeper Ben Garratt was on hand to spare the forward’s blushes, however, as he scrambled the ball off the line ahead of the onrushing Harry Anderson.

Pett pounced on a poor clearance in the 58th minute to seal the win, but Lincoln were presented with a perfect opportunity to wrap things up five minutes from time when Kevin O’Connor cynically brought down Bruno Andrade in the area.

Frecklington stepped up for the Imps, but Garratt ensured a nervy finish by diving low to his left to deny the Imps captain from the spot.

Crewe boss David Artell was left frustrated with his side’s display.

“We can stand here and say we deserved something from the game, but we have already said that about three of the five away games this season,” he said.

“We deserved more at Cheltenham, we should have won at Newport, and now today. That’s not a coincidence – it’s a pattern now.

“I’m not going to dress it up as a hard fought one-nil loss because we never even looked like scoring.

“Sure, Lincoln have evolved and they now have players who can play, but they’re certainly not streets ahead of us.”