Cowley hails Lincoln’s attitude after convincing win against Southend

Posted Sunday, August 18, 2019 by PA

Danny Cowley heaped praise on his Lincoln side after they ran out 4-0 winners over Southend at Sincil Bank.

First-half goals from defenders Jason Shackell and Harry Toffolo along with Tyler Walker’s penalty and Bruno Andrade’s late strike ensured the Imps went top of League One.

Lincoln have a 100 per cent record so far this season in both league and cup, and are yet to concede a goal. For Cowley, it was one of the best displays of his reign.

“We’re pleased to have won the game as comprehensively as we did,” he enthused.

“Although there was very little in it until the first goal, to go in at half-time two goals to the good was fantastic for us.

“Having said that though, I never like to give a team talk when we’re 2-0 up as the players need to stay grounded.

“It was certainly as well as we’ve seen a game out. The players showed so much discipline and remained humble despite being four goals up.

“We continued to play in their half and moved the ball quickly – I imagine the players really enjoyed playing in that environment and I bet it was pleasing for the fans too.

“We’ve brought in a lot of creativity this summer without losing some of our other qualities such as our resilience and grit.

“We applied all our best attributes today and it was a fantastic performance all round, particularly our off-the-ball movement, which has come on no end.”

Shackell put the hosts on their way after returning to the fold following a six-game ban. The central defender rose highest in the 31st minute to head home Jorge Grant’s deep free-kick from the edge of the six-yard box.

Nine minutes later, another Grant free kick found Toffolo advancing in dangerous territory, and just as it looked as though the left back had made a poor second touch, he recovered to beat Elvis Bwomono to the ball and hit a low drive past Nathan Bishop and into the bottom corner.

Walker fired his home his first goal for the club from the penalty spot following a foul by Joe Shaughnessy two minutes after the restart, before substitute Andrade latched onto John Akinde’s pass to rifle home the fourth.

Southend midfielder Mark Milligan faced the press afterwards and felt his side need to improve quickly.

“We started very well, but it soon became apparent that we weren’t going to give ourselves a chance,” he said.

“I thought we were in control until the first goal, but once they scored there was no way back.

“Goals change games so we clearly need to react better to the situations we’re finding ourselves in.

“In football you learn lessons every day and we need to look at this performance in detail and quickly, because there’s a quick turnaround of games at this time of the season.”