Michael Skubala hails Lincoln’s intensity as they hit five past Peterborough

Michael Skubala felt the quality of Lincoln’s pressing game was the difference in his side’s commanding 5-2 win over Peterborough.

Sluggish City had trailed following Harvey Leonard’s opener midway through the first half.

But the Imps scored three times inside 15 minutes before half-time after making tweaks while the linesman was replaced during a lengthy injury break.

Posh pulled one back early in the second half through Kyrell Lisbie before further goals from Adam Reach and Tendayi Darikwa wrapped the win up.

“We didn’t start very well and looked a bit leggy,” said the Lincoln head coach

“It is the first time during this block of five games that we looked leggy, but that’s probably because we went with the same group of players, so you can excuse it in some ways.

“The linesman going down allowed us to talk tactically and remind them of the principals that we stick to and the game plan.

“We made a few tweaks to our press and after that we got on top of the game and started to create more.

“We never want to be outrun or outworked. Once we tidied up our structure and got on top of our pressing we were too much for them.

“They are a good team, but so are we. In the end our intensity, desire and work ethic got on top of them and then you saw our quality with some of the finishing.

“It has been a really tough block of five games when you look at the opposition.”

Peterborough manager Luke Williams felt his side shot themselves in the foot after conceding the fourth goal.

“We scored the first goal in the second half and there is no reason other than some poor play why we conceded almost immediately from the restart,” said a frustrated Williams.

“I think if we had not conceded from the restart we had a chance of at least trying to tussle a point back.

“We had to work hard for our goals, but we didn’t make them work as hard for their goals.

“The way we conceded after our second goal is the blow that knocks us out of our stride.

“I thought we started very well and looked comfortable, but, bit by bit, we lost our grip, especially in transition.

“We didn’t defend our box in the big moments in the way we have become accustomed to.

“It is fair to talk about the clinical nature of Lincoln, that is why they are doing so fanatically well. We were beaten by a better team today.

“Away from home the levels of concentration to try and control the game is immense, so for there to be that long delay didn’t help us.”