Michael Skubala takes pride as Lincoln ‘grind it out’ to close in on promotion

Lincoln manager Michael Skubala was full of praise for his battling League One leaders after substitute Ryan One’s 88th-minute goal in the 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon all-but secured promotion.

The Imps need just one more point from their remaining six games to rubber-stamp their place in the Championship after extending their unbeaten run to 23 league matches.

And the celebrations could officially get under way as early as Easter Monday, when they travel to play-off chasing Reading.

“You have to find ways to win matches and it was an excellent three points,” said Skubala. “They made it very tough for us, they set up well.

“They were physically strong and we couldn’t get in behind them, partly due to the wind. It is really pleasing how we managed to grind it out.

“That game shows you how tough it is to win football matches at any level. It was a tough game and the conditions definitely favoured them, we just couldn’t quite going in our game plan.

“It became their fight ball and we changed to make it our fight ball, and then we eventually got the result we wanted.”

The winning goal was created by two substitutes, with Dom Jefferies’ cross bundled in by One and Skubala was quick to highlight the impact of his whole squad.

He added: “This group has been excellent, not just the ones who start, but the ones who come on.

“You don’t go half the season unbeaten if you don’t have game-changing subs who can affect the match.”

In an encounter of few chances, affected by a swirling wind, City left it late to secure another win, when Jefferies’ cross from the left was eventually met by One and he scrambled the ball over the line to secure another victory.

The goal had a whiff of controversy about it, with Jefferies’ cross looking like it hit Ryley Towler’s hand before it reached One and frustrated AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson was adamant it should have been ruled out.

“It’s cruel, the goal shouldn’t count, it’s handball,” he said. “The ball’s hit Ryley Towler’s hand and bounced to their player and he’s scored. It’s a difficult one to take.

“We’ve come here against the leaders, who have done great things, and we have taken the game to them and I thought we were more than a match for them.

“I feel like a broken record, standing here and talking about how well we played after another defeat – we’re not taking our chances, that’s the crux of the matter.

“We dealt with a lot of their threats, kept them away from our goal, especially in the second half when they had the wind.

“I thought we played well and we were two minutes away from getting a great point – we should have won, but it would still have been a great point.

“We could have dealt with the situation better, stopped the cross, but if it hits your hand, it shouldn’t count.”