Oxford caretaker manager Craig Short is hoping his side’s performance raised their confidence, despite it not being enough to prevent a 1-0 loss at Lincoln.
The U’s can feel unlucky to have come away from the LNER Stadium with nothing as they were denied an equaliser on several occasions in what was their first game since Karl Robinson’s sacking last week.
Their poor run of form has now been extended to eight defeats in nine games, and picking up one point from an available 27 has left them just four clear of the League One relegation places.
Short said: “I think that performance is going to help their confidence.
“The confidence was shot – I’ve been there as a player where you’ve lost games and not been performing at the level you have done.
“I wanted the players to perform at the level they have done for the three years I’ve been here, and previous to that when Karl’s been in charge.
“I wanted them to get back to that level and of course we’re gutted. I’ve just been in the changing room and you can’t say a great deal to them afterwards.
“They’re all gutted in there but a special mention to James Henry, who’s been out for a while.
“I can’t really fault any of the players, but this is a results business, I know that.
“There’s no magic wand but if those lads had performed like that for the last few games, they’d have got more out of the games.”
Lincoln’s winner came from the penalty spot, with Danny Mandroiu blasting his kick down the middle after he had been clumsily felled by Sam Long.
Kyle Joseph and Long both had shots cleared off the line for Oxford, who were also denied an equaliser by Carl Rushworth’s brilliant save from Gatlin O’Donkor’s header with five minutes left.
Lincoln boss Mark Kennedy said: “It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t our best performance.
“I was disappointed in us today, if I’m being honest, but it’s nice to win a game ugly and we did that today.
“We kept a clean sheet, we’ve won at home, we’re unbeaten at home so there were a lot of boxes ticked that you want. It just wasn’t a nice performance.
“But I do think Oxford are a really good side. I said to Craig after the game ‘you are easily one of the best I’ve seen here this year’, and I meant it.
“They’ve got a top-six budget and it’s just not happened for them this year.
“They’ve got loads of players I’d love to have – I wouldn’t swap them with mine, but they’ve got loads of really good players.
“During the game I was worried and I’m relieved it’s over.”
