Steven Schumacher took some solace from Wanderers extending their unbeaten run as he urged his team to keep going inside League One’s top six.
The Whites conceded the lead in a dramatic derby clash against Blackpool before again hitting back late to rescue a 2-2 draw. Schumacher’s men are now unbeaten in nine games but are 10 points off the top two after a testing run of fixtures.
“I think the three draws this week have been three hard games, let's have it right,” said the Wanderers’ boss. “Lincoln's one of the toughest places to go, Reading is a team who are really in form and Blackpool today, with the ex-manager coming and trying to do everything not to lose in a local derby, so they were tough games.
“We would have liked to have taken more points. I thought we deserved to win at Reading, I thought on the edge of it we could have won this game, but also could have lost it, so we're unbeaten in nine. That's the positive but we need to just keep going and try and win on Saturday.”
Former Wanderers’ boss Ian Evatt saw his side go behind to an Eoin Toal goal as the Whites dominated the opening hour. Two goals in five mad minutes then saw Wanderers fall behind and it needed another late strike from substitute Mason Burstow to stave off only a second home defeat of the campaign before both sides threatened a winner in an end-to-end spell of injury time.
“We had so much control of the game and were really good for large parts of it,” Schumacher added. “We got ourselves in front, deservedly so, and then within a few minutes we found ourselves somehow 2-1 behind, so I was disappointed with that.
“Again, we had to show good character to come from behind and get something from the game. In the end could have won it with Thierry's shot and in the end could have lost it when they hit the post.
“I've said the lads who are coming off the bench for us lately are doing really well. I thought Max was positive when he came on, Thierry did really well, looked really sharp and gets the assist for Mason's goal and Johnny Kenny again looked lively when he came on.
“I was pleased for Mason. He’s got 10 goals now and I’m delighted for him and we've always said we've got a good selection of wingers here. Thierry was excellent today when he came on and that's what we need, because it's going to be a squad game. It's going to be difficult in the running, so we're going to need everyone.”
Attacking midfield men Ruben Rodrigues and John McAtee both missed out through injury but are not expected to be long-term absentees as Wanderers now re-group for next Saturday’s trip to Exeter City.
Watch the full post-match interview with the head coach on Wanderers TV