Lincoln City 2, Burton Albion 1
A Jack Moylan brace helped the Imps extend their unbeaten run in League One to 10 matches with a hard-fought win over Burton Albion at the LNER Stadium last night.
A crowd of 9,514 - with the largest home following of the season - saw the Irishman score in both halves to cancel out Jake Beesley's equaliser just before the break, as the Imps made it seven league games unbeaten at home.
Michael Skubala named an unchanged side from the 2-2 draw against Luton Town on Saturday. Alfie Lloyd - who signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers earlier in the week - was on the bench.
Moylan’s first came on 35 minutes after he picked up possession and drove through the middle before seeing his 25-yard low drive hit a post and go in.
The joy was short-lived though, as the away side responded just two minutes later through Beesley. The striker was given the simplest of tasks to convert from close-range, after being picked out by Jack Armer’s cross from the left flank.
The Imps regained the lead on 55 minutes through Moylan’s second of the contest. Good work from the Irishman initially teed up Freddie Draper inside the box and with Collins only able to parry his effort out, Moylan was there to capitalise on the rebound to make it 2-1.
The visitors continued to press especially through Kyran Lofthouse who made the Imps work hard in the closing stages, but Skubala’s men held out for the three points.
The head coach said: “It was a tough game against a really difficult team who set up to make it hard for us, especially on the break.
“It made for a really hard game and credit to Burton, Gary Bowyer is a good manager who has won games at different levels.
“We found a way to win and that is a great hallmark of this team. I’m really pleased with the result.
“No one here is concentrating on records, our focus is on getting as many points as we can.”
Skubala believes there is still more to come from Moylan: “I’m so pleased for Jack. He’s had his injuries this season and started a little bit later than everyone else because of it.
“We see that in Jack - we call him our ‘magic man.’ He sniffs things out like he did with the second goal, he was alert and got himself in the position to score.
“I think he has a lot of growth, which is really exciting. He’s one of a number of players in the team that we think are going to keep improving, which is very encouraging."
The Imps are next in action on Tuesday 27 January, when they welcome Bradford City to the LNER Stadium.
Skubala has called on as many Imps as possible to get down to the LNER Stadium to back the team against the Bantams.
He said: “There’s still a lot of points to play for, it is an exciting game. The crowd were absolutely magnificent against Burton Albion and we’re going to need them again.
“At 1-1, they really pushed us on to get the winner. It was great to see so many get behind us.”
Attendance: 9,514 (302)
Picture: Vaughan Photography
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