Lincoln City head coach reacts to 5-1 friendly defeat against Grimsby Town

Lincoln City boss delivers honest verdict after 5-1 friendly defeat to Grimsby Town

Lincoln City joint-head coach Chris Cohen refused to dismiss his side’s heavy 5-1 pre-season defeat to Grimsby Town, insisting the result exposed issues that must be addressed before the new campaign begins.

The Imps endured a difficult evening at Blundell Park, falling three goals behind before half-time. Although they reduced the deficit early in the second half, a defensive mix-up allowed Grimsby to restore their cushion before adding a fifth to complete an emphatic victory.

Despite the match carrying no competitive significance, Cohen made it clear that he would not hide behind the fact it was only a friendly.

Speaking after the game, he stressed that Lincoln approach every fixture with the intention of winning and admitted the team’s display fell well below the standards expected by both the players and coaching staff.

Cohen acknowledged that pre-season is the ideal time to identify weaknesses, but said the performance was disappointing nonetheless. He believes the squad’s reaction to the defeat reflects the winning mentality that has been built over the past year.

The Lincoln boss also pointed to last summer’s preparations as evidence that poor pre-season results do not necessarily predict how the campaign will unfold. He recalled that setbacks in friendly matches ultimately proved valuable lessons as the club went on to enjoy a successful season.

Rather than dwelling on the loss, Cohen said the focus will now shift to reviewing the performance in detail. The coaching staff and players will analyse what went wrong before returning to the training ground to correct those mistakes ahead of the season opener.

He also praised the character of the dressing room, describing the squad as a committed group determined to respond positively. According to Cohen, one disappointing display will not alter the faith he and fellow joint-head coach Tom Shaw have in the players.

Lincoln City now turn their attention to another busy weekend of pre-season action, with separate squads expected to face Barnsley and Doncaster in back-to-back friendlies. Trialist midfielder Matt Smith is also in line for further minutes after featuring against Grimsby as preparations for the new campaign continue.