MICHAEL MAKES BIG IMPRESSION

GETTING the players onside is a good start for any new manager, so Michael Skubala can be delighted with how his early days at the Lincoln City helm have gone.

- John Lyons

Following a narrow 1-0 defeat at high-flying Stevenage in his first game in charge last weekend, the Imps won by the same score at Leyton Orient on Tuesday night. Goalscorer Ethan Hamilton and his teammates raced over to the dugout to celebrate with the coaching staff and substitutes, showing a sign of real unity.

It had looked as though the game was going to finish goalless until the 25-year-old Scot stroked a low shot into the net in the 89th minute, making it a memorable night for rookie boss Skubala, the team and the fans who trekked south for a game which had had to be rearranged following the sad death of stalwart O's fan Derek Reynolds in early October.

Former Peterborough and Accrington midfielder Hamilton has been impressed by the new boss, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience under his belt and is now hungry to try his hand at management.

Tough "He's really methodical in the way he works and the last few days on the training ground have been tough," Hamilton told The FLP after the hard-earned midweek victory. "He really pushes us hard, which is what you want as a player.

"He's got new patterns that he wants us to play and he wants to take the handbrake.