Danny Cowley warns Lincoln they will need to improve in play-offs

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Danny Cowley admitted Lincoln will need to up their game in the League Two play-offs after the Imps booked their top-seven spot with a tense 1-1 draw against Yeovil.

The Imps will face Exeter in the semi-finals, with the first leg at home next Saturday, after being held by the Glovers, who took an early lead through Jordan Green.

After a poor first-half showing, City improved after the break and finally levelled through substitute Tom Pett with 13 minutes to go.

In the end, the Imps could have afforded to lose as Mansfield were held 1-1 at home by Crawley.

Once again, Cowley said his players’ desire was crucial as they avoided a rare home defeat.

“We’ll need to be a lot better than we were today,” conceded Cowley.

“We actually started the game quite well, but then conceded a terrible goal. When you concede a terrible goal in a really big game then nerves start to come into play.

“We were very tentative and our execution in the first half was very poor.

“We were taking loads of risks in our defending third but none in their defending third.

“We rectified a few things at half-time and we found a way.”

Imps fans have seen little of Pett since his arrival from Stevenage in January in a two-and-a-half-year deal.

But after coming off the bench early in the second half, he picked the perfect time to score his first goal for the club with a sublime strike from the edge of the box.

“It was definitely the best moment of quality in the game,” said Cowley.

“I’m really pleased for Tom because it’s never easy when you go to a new club, particularly when you’ve got to relocate, like he’s had to.

“But in the last two weeks he’s started to find his feet and his level. We saw a sample of that today. He’s going to be a top, top player for us.”

Glovers boss Darren Way had insisted his players would be well prepared for the game, despite having nothing to play for – and he felt his side delivered.

“For such a young team, it was a magnificent effort,” said Way. “We showed fight, spirit and determination.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult place to come, but it took a lot for them to unlock us. It was a fantastic goal.

“They are a club that is carrying a lot of momentum and I said to the players that they need to be inspired to do the same next season.”

Way reflected on a season which began with an 8-2 thumping at Luton, but included runs to the fourth round of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the Checkatrade Trophy.

“We’ve had ups and we’ve had downs – you never come through a season unscathed,” added Way.

“I probably share the frustration of some of the supporters.”