Lee Frecklington believed Saturday took a little while for the Imps to get going, but once they settled into the game, he was disappointed not to come away with more than a point.
Frecklington, who returned to Sincil Bank on Thursday evening following a near nine-year spell away from the club, believes days like Saturday reiterates the direction that the club is moving in.
“The game was manic. It was an awakening to League Two and Sincil Bank. It was 100mph, it took us a little time to get used to it, but we got there eventually and were disappointed not to get more out of it,” Freck said.
“When you’re disappointed with a draw at home to second in the table, it shows just how far we’ve actually come. It shows the ambition we’ve got, and the belief that we’re going in the right direction.”
It was the first time Frecklington had turned out in an City shirt since 31st January 2009, following spells in the Championship and League One with Peterborough United and Rotherham United.
“I think today it was a little more back to front (than in League One) and a game of second pieces, rather than building up play. You have to play to your conditions, and I think we did it very well from 30 minutes onwards.” He added.
“It’s our job to get the ball back when it comes down, so we need to be effective with the second balls, and that’s how we play, and it worked until their goal from the long throw-in. Greeny got in behind a few times and when it’s working like that you can’t change it.”
It took just 39 minutes of Freck’s homecoming for him to get his name on the scoresheet as he scored in typical fashion, arriving late into the box to send the capacity home crowd into delight.
“I’m delighted to score. I did have visions of one dropping to me on the edge of the box in the 89th minute, but unfortunately that didn’t happen, so I can’t be too greedy.” The 32-year-old said.
“It’s been a long week and it’s nice to cap it off with a goal. The support over the last few days has been unbelievable, and the messages I’ve had have been amazing.”
The praise for the Lincoln support didn’t stop there from the homegrown midfielder, either.
“It’s loud and when you get forward it encourages you more and to pick up second balls, so you want to continue a wave of momentum of attacks. The more we do that, the louder it gets. The noise can only benefit us.” He added.
Second-time debutant Frecklington partnered ever-present Alex Woodyard in the middle of midfield, and the pair looked like they slotted in nicely alongside one another.
“I really like Alex as a player, he’s clever, and whenever the ball seems to drop, he knows where it’s going.
“It’s difficult because we’ve only had one Friday training session together, so it was always going to take time for three new players to gel in together, but after the 30 minutes we found some sort of combinations.”