Tom Hopper was pleased to mark his return to the City squad with a goal on Tuesday night.
The frontman made his first start for the Imps since the start of September and played his part in the game as City qualified for the last 16 of the Papa Johns Trophy against Morecambe.
He said: “You can do all the work you want on the training pitch, but there is no such thing to replicate the match situations and intensity.
“I felt good physically and it was nice to get a goal, as well as being back involved with the lads. Charles Vernam put the ball in a great area for me and thankfully I managed to get a touch on it.”
Jordan Wright pulled off two big penalty saves against the Shrimps as City won 4-3 in the shootout, and Hopper was quick to praise the work of the goalkeeper union in the build up to games.
He added: “It is important for us to progress in cup competitions. It does not matter how you do it and we are delighted to get through.
“Whilst we would have liked to do it in normal time, Jordan Wright has produced some good saves as he has done in previous shootouts, and the lads have stuck their penalties away well.
“Credit to the goalkeeper union because they do their homework and thankfully it has paid off for us.”
City are back in action on Saturday 3 December at Shrewsbury Town in Sky Bet League One - purchase your match pass HERE.
