Michael Skubala proud of Lincoln efforts but angry with red card decision

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala was angry at the decision to send off Sonny Bradley which he felt was crucial in his side’s 1-1 draw with Mansfield.

Defender Bradley scored his first goal for Lincoln as he tapped in James Collins’ low cross to give the home side a deserved 17th-minute lead.

But momentum swung in favour of the away side just after the half hour when Bradley was shown red by referee Aaron Bannister for a last-man foul on George Maris.

Lincoln defended resiliently against heavy Mansfield pressure after being reduced to 10 men, but had their hearts broken eight minutes from time when Nathan Moriah-Welsh swept home Kyle Knoyle’s cut-back.

Skubala said: “The lads were magnificent from start to finish. It was one-way traffic before the sending-off. We were on top of the game, looking good and moving the ball well.

“What I’m really proud of is that they only carved us open twice after that red card.

“But I am really angry because the man in the middle today was way off it. It’s my understanding of the laws of the game that when a player comes back from offside and affects it, he’s offside. The referee plays on and Sonny has to react – and we have to react quicker.

“But I’m angry. I’m angry at six yellow cards, seven yellow cards being shown. I got booked, and I don’t even know why. It’s ridiculous.

“I’m so proud of this group and for 30 minutes, you saw how good this group could be. Silly decisions haven’t gone our way but I’m so proud that we got a point and can move on.”

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough said he was frustrated with his side’s first-half performance but conceded he would have taken a point against a tough Lincoln side ahead of kick-off.

“It’s never easy against this Lincoln side in any circumstance, with 11 men or 10 men,” he said.

“We conceded a poor goal from a free-kick early on and didn’t create much in the first half, but obviously the sending-off gave us that impetus and we controlled the second half.

“We needed to do more of what we did to score the equaliser: four crisp passes, a good run, a good cross and it’s a tap-in.

“I thought we looked a little bit lethargic, which is understandable after playing a game on Wednesday night, and that translates to poor mental decisions. We felt frustrated with the first half and made four changes.

“The only reason Nathan (Moriah-Welsh) didn’t come on at half-time was because he played the full 90 minutes on Wednesday night against Everton; he looked bright and sharp when he came on.

“We would have taken the point before the game, to lose your first two games and end August with 10 points is a very good return.”