A frustrated Michael Skubala was left to rue a game-changing red card as City fell to defeat at Bolton Wanderers.
The Imps were 1-0 down when Ethan Erhahon was shown a second yellow, but were very much in the game at the Toughsheet Stadium after a competitive opening half.
Head coach Skubala said: "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.
"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."
Skubala was pleased to see Adam Jackson return to action after suffering several broken bones in his face at Rotherham United earlier in December.
He added: "As well as Adam we've had Tom Hamer out and Tendayi Darikwa playing centrally in a back four which is not his preferred position.
"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."
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