SKUBALA'S IMPS DEBUT WRECKED BY ACE REID

NEW Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala admitted his Lincoln players need to be ‘stronger’ after they lost out in a physical battle at Stevenage.

- BEN THOMAS

Jamie Reid’s 68th-minute strike may have been all that separated the two sides at the final whistle, but following a first half that was edged by the Imps, Boro dominated the second period, using their physicality to bully their way past City, who struggled to regain a foothold in the match.

“We need to get physically stronger, there is no doubt about that and that takes time – you can’t just push a button,” said Skubala, who was handed a four-year contract earlier in the week by Lincoln after leaving Leeds United, to replace previous incumbent Mark Kennedy.

“We have a lot of work to do with the lads off the pitch. We need to be a little more streetwise on the football pitch. Young players have to learn and learn quick.”

Skubala did see some positive moments in the first half, but with a striker injury crisis currently hampering their progress, they rarely troubled the hosts’ goal. He went on: “I was quite pleased in the first half, we won a few second balls which I knew we would have to do. When we landed on the ball we looked composed and played a bit more.