Match Overview
Portsmouth beat Lincoln City 3-1 at Sincil Bank on Saturday. The home side secured the win with goals from Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen, Adrian Segecic and Ebou Adams, while Lincoln’s Reeco Hackett pulled one back. Joint manager Tom Shaw, who shares the role with Chris Cohen, said the scoreline did not reflect the Imps’ dominant performance.
Key Moments
The game began with a promising start for Lincoln. Within the first five minutes, Ben House had a one‑on‑one with Portsmouth defender Nicolas Schmid, but a defensive mix‑up left the goal open and the opportunity was missed. Portsmouth answered quickly, with Kavuma‑McQueen and Segecic scoring in quick succession to take a 2‑0 lead. Hackett managed to reduce the deficit to 2‑1 at the half‑hour mark, but Lincoln’s attack stalled in the second half. Ebou Adams struck a 25‑yard effort to seal the result for Portsmouth.
Shaw’s Assessment
Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Shaw expressed disappointment but also confidence in his side’s performance. He said, “We started the game superbly, spent seven or eight minutes in and around their goal. We looked like a real threat and then it was a real sucker punch.” Shaw added that the two goals conceded were preventable, noting that “if we do our work a little bit earlier, we could have avoided the second goal.” He praised the front two for creating problems and said the first half was “dominant.” Shaw acknowledged that the team “petered out” in the second half and committed to increasing volume around Portsmouth’s goal. He concluded that the Imps must improve to win consistently at Championship level and that they will continue to work hard on the training ground.
Looking Ahead
Lincoln City will use the experience to refine their approach as they continue to adapt to Championship football. The club remains focused on building momentum and addressing the areas highlighted by Shaw after the 3‑1 defeat.
