Michael Skubala hails Lincoln’s ‘magnificent’ defensive display

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala saluted a “magnificent” defensive performance from his side after they beat Huddersfield 1-0 at the LNER Arena.

Reeco Hackett scored the only goal after 35 minutes – with the only effort on target from either side – to hand the Imps maximum points, as Town’s stumbling play-off hopes received another damaging blow.

A delighted Skubala was only too happy to praise a resilient display, saying: “They are a top team in this league, but I thought our back four were magnificent.

“We defended very, very well and I don’t remember them having a shot on target.

“We have to keep pushing and keep improving, but one thing’s for sure, we want to keep defending like that.

“It just shows the character of this group. We don’t want the season to peter out and it was a great, pleasing performance.”

Skubala was also pleased to see former Imps loanee and now Huddersfield centre-forward Joe Taylor – who scored 10 goals in 19 outings for City last season – superbly shackled by his defence, with Adam Jackson and Tom Hamer ruling the roost.

“We know Joe very well and what he’s good at and not so good at, and we thought we could keep him quiet by making him run without the ball and we did that,” he said.

Lincoln grabbed the winner with their first effort of the match. Tom Bayliss’ corner was flicked on by Jackson and rushing in at the back post was Hackett, who stabbed the ball into the net.

It was a sixth defeat in eight games for Town and their players were treated to a rendition of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ by the 962 away fans when the full-time whistle went, as their play-off aspirations were hit once more.

For interim manager Jon Worthington it was a night of pure disappointment as the Terriers failed to register a single effort on target.

“We lost the game on a set-piece and we knew it was a strength of theirs, so it is very frustrating,” he said. “We are in a results business and we’ve not got that.

“The lads showed fight and worked hard but we didn’t have enough quality in the final third. We started the game brightly and controlled spells but we just didn’t do enough in our attacking moments.

“Lincoln are a well-organised team and we had to be more patient against them.”

On the supporters’ reaction afterwards, Worthington added: “Nobody wants to hear the fans say that towards the players, but they’ve come out and not got the result they wanted. We will do our absolute hardest to turn it around.”