Bolton Wanderers 3, Lincoln City 0

A red card for City’s Ethan Erhahon with half the match to play was too much for the Imps to overcome at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

Bolton had taken the lead after 36 minutes through a pinpoint long-range strike from Aaron Collins which bounced off a post and in. However, Imps head coach Michael Skubala felt his team was still in position to get something out of the game at his point.

Erhahon was sent off just after the half-time whistle due to a second yellow card and Bolton doubled their advantage when Jay Matete's deflected effort found the back of the net shortly after to effectively kill off hopes of a fightback from the visitors.

Although City battled hard to get back into the game the hosts added a third through Matete.

"We were still in the game and causing them problems, I was speaking with Chris Cohen about some tactical tweaks then that moment changed the game,” said Skubala.

"We're waiting for the referee's report and there's two sides to every story, so I need to see what the referee says.

"I was going to tweak a few things, and thought we'd get more pressure on and we would be better in the second half. So there's no doubt in my mind that in the second half we would go and score a goal with 11 players.

"To come here and have to play with 10 men for such a long period against such a good team is really difficult. I'm bitterly disappointed with how the game has ended up, but credit to the 10 men who never gave up."

"We've just got to get through it as a club - to make sure that we we keep trying to push and pick up points.

"No one said this league was going to be easy this season. We needed a better period over these past 10 games, there's no doubt about that, but we'll dust ourselves off and give it a go on New Year's Day."

Picture: Vaughan Photography

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