Lincoln boss Michael Skubala admitted their defeat at Wanderers was frustrating after losing Ethan Erhahon in bizarre circumstances.

Erhahon was shown two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession, with the latter coming as the players were leaving the pitch at the end of the first half.

“A very tough afternoon, especially in the second half,” Skubala said after the final whistle. “Really tough. The game starts and we are definitely in it.

“It is to and fro, probably not the best goal to concede but we are still in the game and looking like causing them problems.

“I have seen them play many times and suffocated teams at home, they’ve been very good at home, but we are massively in the game.

“It’s ebbing and flowing, we are just about to go in at half time and then an incident happens. It is disappointing but I have got to be careful because I am waiting for the referee’s report.

“I have two sides of a story, but that moment changes the game. This is a tough place to come anyway. Second half, I am proud of the lads who dug it out. They worked so hard.

“To come here and have to deal with 10 men, for such a long period, is really difficult. I am bitterly disappointed with how the game has ended up but credit to the 10 men, they dug it out.”

Skubala felt that his side were capable of getting back into the contest in the second half had it not been for the second ogg.

“Bit of a nervous start. We are away from home, it’s a tough place to come. These have a top six budget, they were in the play-off final last year,” he added.

“They are a very good team at this level and they are finding their feet, but we matched them. We had a couple of instances in their box and a couple of corners.

“I even thought when they went 1-0 up, I was going to tweak a few things at half time and thought we would get more pressure on and be better, second half.

“There was no doubt in my mind that, second half, we would go and score a goal with 11 men on the pitch.”