City head coach Michael Skubala has challenged his players to bounce back from Saturday’s narrow defeat to Leyton Orient when they travel to Bradford City on Tuesday (7.45pm KO).
The Imps went down 1-0 in the capital to Idris El Mizouni’s second half goal and Skubala believes it is good for his side to have another game on the horizon so quickly.
He said: “We have to go again, it is going to be a tough game for us at Bradford but it’s good that it comes up so quickly because you want another game to come around to bounce back.
“The reality is that we have to be at our best in every game we play, because if we aren’t teams will hurt us.
“We have to keep working, I’d rather be creating chances and I think we have been doing that.”
The Imps were unable to convert opportunities to take the lead in a dominant opening period of the game.
While admitting he was frustrated City didn’t find the net whilst they were on top, the boss was encouraged to see his side still create big opportunities, despite not being at their best.
He added: “In the first 20 minutes we had some good moments but you have to take them. When you come away to a tough place like this, you have to score when you’re on top because the game looks different.
“In the second half, we didn’t have as much control as I'd have liked and when you go 1-0 down it always going to be difficult.
“We perhaps weren’t quite at our best as a team, but we still created some big moments.”
Skipper Tendayi Darikwa echoed the thoughts of the head coach and insisted the squad are looking forward to the chance to bounce back in West Yorkshire.
He said: “We’re frustrated, football is a game of fine margins and when you have chances you have to take them.
“This is a tough division and, when you have four or five really big opportunities, you get punished if you pass them up.
“Orient are a good team, they reached the play-off final last year so we know they have quality, but we were not at our best
“After a defeat you immediately want an opportunity to put it right and we have that when we go to Bradford on Tuesday."
Tickets for City's family fireworks spectacular are selling fast - you don't want to miss out
