Michael Skubala salutes ‘brilliant away performance’ as Lincoln win at Stockport

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala described their 2-1 win at promotion rivals Stockport as a “big moment” in their season.

Rob Street’s stoppage-time penalty saw Lincoln edge a pulsating encounter, firing home from 12 yards after Jack Hunt was adjudged to have brought down Reeco Hackett.

It was no more than Lincoln deserved after a dominant performance and victory keeps them in second position, three points off table-topping Cardiff.

Skubala, who was yellow carded in the second half after remonstrating with the match officials, said: “Fair play to Streety for stepping up and putting that in the back of the net. It’s a big moment for him and the club.

“It was a brilliant away performance. We were the better team and I think we deserved the three points.

“We were aggressive and on the front foot. I loved the way we played in the last 20 minutes. We hit the post with Streety’s header and deserved the win.

“It’s a huge moment for us. We have beaten Stockport and Cardiff in the last two games. They are two good, solid, physical sides.

“Stockport will be up there at the end of the season. It’s a tough place to come and the crowd gets right behind them, but we managed that well.

“We keep growing and keep trying to improve. We keep trying to churn points out and look after ourselves.”

Lincoln took the lead in the 28th minute after goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe failed to deal with Hackett’s fierce strike from close range.

But they were pegged back after the restart as Jayden Fevrier tapped home after captain Ollie Norwood’s penalty was saved by George Wickens.

However, Stockport were second best for long periods and they fell to a second successive home defeat following Street’s late penalty.

Manager Dave Challinor said: “It’s a disappointing result. We were better in the second half.

“You know what type of game it’s going to be against Lincoln and we knew how they were going to play but we didn’t start well.

“We performed much better in the second half but I’ve got to look at why that wasn’t the case in the first.

“There are still things there we need to massively improve on. But we’re a little bit restricted by players we can and can’t play because of injuries and things like that.

“We are a little bit clunky at times and we have to get through that.

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see that some players are struggling at the minute, be that expectation of playing here (at Edgeley Park) or the expectation of the football club.

“We have to rise above that and you have to show a belief as a player that you want to play higher.”