Lincoln City director of football on “incredible” second half of season

Lincoln City director of football Jez George has reflected on a season that almost took the Imps into the play-offs.

In an in-depth interview with BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Red Imps Club podcast, the former Cambridge United manager said he “never, ever expected” the amazing turnaround that the second half of the season brought for the Imps.

What has Jez George said?

Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Michael Hortin, he said: “I never, ever expected the run that happened in the second half of the season, but I expected us to be competitive. I expected us to win games.”

He added: “I thought, we could be a different team, we could create momentum, we could have a really positive second half of the season. You always look at it like this: if you get two points a game you win the league, if you get 1.7 points per game you get in the play-offs.

“I thought in that last 20 games, if we can get more than 30 points, that would be a really good way to finish the season, create some momentum and belief. What the players did was absolutely incredible.”

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An “incredible” second-half of the season for Lincoln City:

After defeat on New Year’s Day to Neil Critchley’s Blackpool side, Lincoln embarked on a 16 game unbeaten run.

It started with draws against Wycombe Wanderers, Derby County and then automatic-promotion chasers Peterborough United. Then, they ended a ten game winless run with victory on the road at Burton Albion, before winning four of their next five.

The Imps had been dogged by injuries in their attacking ranks for much of the campaign before they sparked into life in January. That form continued in March, as Michael Skubala’s men scored 16 goals in just three games, including five away to Barnsley.

Narrowly missed out on the play-off dream:

Lincoln City had snook into the play-off places before a home defeat to a tough Wigan Athletic outfit knocked them back. They rebounded with victories over fellow play-off chasers Oxford United and relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town, leaving a spot in the top-six firmly in their hands ahead of the final day.

The Imps knew they needed a win over Portsmouth, who had been crowned SkyBet League One champions two games prior, to secure a play-off place.

However, a Myles Peart-Harris opener, in the 81st minute, and Paddy Lane second late into injury time, meant the door was open for Oxford to revive their place in the top six.

It was an opportunity that the U’s seized.

The mere fact that Lincoln City had put themselves in contention come the final day, never mind having the ball in their court, was a meaningful achievement for a side that was light on goals and points at the season’s halfway mark.