Tom Shaw: “We’ve got good spirit and good players. It’s just so disappointing.”

Interim head coach Tom Shaw apologised to Lincoln City supporters after the Imps crashed out of the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at home to Morecambe.

You can discuss what Tom Shaw said in his post-match interview HERE, as well as get involved with many other topics on our 100% Imps forum!

For the second season in a row, City suffered defeat at the first hurdle, as they managed to throw away a one-goal lead, given to them by the reliable Lasse Sorensen, with the Shrimps roaring back with goals from Michael Mellon and Tom Bloxham to secure their place in the second-round hat.

“Apologies to the supporters for no Cup run this year, it’s a shame,” said a clearly demoralised Shaw. “We started the game well and I thought we looked like we were going to be good value, but I was disappointed with how the game the spun around. We were just not clinical really with the chances.

“We started really brightly with the ball – the game plan of us having more possession was having a huge effect and a bit cleaner in the final third and it’s two, maybe three to get us off to a brilliant start and then we’ve them given hope.

“We’ve not been doing our roles and responsibilities of defending a corner, which needs addressing as a group going forward and then second half, we lost our way a little bit and it became a proper Cup tie and we lost control.”

Sorensen slid in to convert Danny Mandroiu’s pass after just 14 minutes and then Lincoln wasted a number of good chances to put the tie to bed as they took control, with Ethan Hamilton (three times) and Alistair Smith both failing to increase the lead from good positions, with their profligacy ultimately coming back to bite them.

As Morecambe clambered off the ropes after weathering the storm, they hit the Imps with a sucker-punch just before the break when Mellon turned in Adam Mayor’s corner as City’s failure to defend set-pieces reared its ugly head once more.

And it got worse for City, just eight minutes after the break when Bloxham stole a march on the Imps defence, receiving Eli King’s pass and rounding Lukas Jensen to fire the Shrimps into the lead.

Rather than spark a fire under City’s belly, the goal seemed to have the adverse effect and if anything it was Derek Adams’ side who should have been out of sight, with Bloxham denied a second by Jensen’s excellent save, before the number seven then had a shot cleared off the line.

Shaw threw on Jack Vale and Dylan Duffy to try and force their way back into the match and they finally mustered up a late response and should have taken the match to a replay, but Adam Jackson hit a post, while fellow sub Jovon Makama twice fired wide when it looked easier to score.

But City don’t score late goals and the sense of inevitability could be sensed at a wet Sincil Bank as the Imps ultimately limped out with barely a whimper, resulting in a fourth year in a row where the Imps have failed to reach the third round and draw a big name out of the hat, plus miss out on some big paydays.

Shaw was left to rue a succession of missed opportunities in the first half, adding: “We had some big opportunities and that final touch, final pass just got away from us in and around their box, where we had brilliant situations.

“We just didn’t put the game to bed. We’ve got good spirit and good players. It’s just so disappointing.

“It felt like a slow start to the second half – perhaps we got a little bit edgy. The knock back just before half-time just threw us a little, but we had our moments at the end. With one clean connection it’s a goal and we’re going to a replay, but we struggled to have the required conviction in the penalty area.”

Writer: The Imposter

Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!

Tom Shaw: "We've got good spirit and good players. It's just so disappointing."https://t.co/vN4tGj3biY#WeAreImps #UTS #EmiratesFACup

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) November 6, 2023

Lincoln City				Morecambe
Sørensen 14'				Mellon 43', Bloxham 53'
1. Jensen				21. Smith
15. O'Connor				12. Senior			90+4'
5. Jackson				3. Tutonda			45'
22. Eyoma			85'	22. Connolly
16. Burroughs				4. Bedeau (c)
14. Mândroiu				8. King
11. Hamilton				7. Bloxham			90'
6. Erhahon				11. Mayor
21. Adelakun			67'	11. McKiernan
2. Sørensen				14. Slew
8. Smith			72'	9. Mellon
Substitutes
12. Wright (GK)				26. Pedley (GK)
3. Brown				2. Love			45'
25. Mitchell				23. Melbourne			90+4'
30. Shodipo				5. Rawson
17. Duffy			72'	16. Davenport
27. Makama			85'	6. Songo'o			90'
29. Vale			67'	20. Brown

Game Statistics
16	Goal attempts	12
3	On Target	6
3	Corners	6
10	Fouls	6
3	Yellow Cards	4
0	Red Cards	0
50	%	50