‘My heart rate wasn’t raised in win over Charlton Athletic’ – Lincoln boss Michael Appleton on a ‘fully deserved’ win

Michael Appleton reckoned that Lincoln City dominated Charlton Athletic in their 2-1 victory – and added that they were so comfortable his heart rate didn’t go above 80.

Jayden Stockley’s own goal had put the hosts ahead, before a Sam Lavelle equaliser just after the hour mark. However a Regan Poole stoppage time winner gave the Imps all three points.

Appleton told BBC Lincolnshire: “From a performance point of view, arguably our best of the season. We dominated the game from the first minute.

“We were good first half, and excellent in the second half. The cutting edge we lacked a little bit in the final third in the first half, we had that a bit more in the second half and got our just rewards.

“[Asked if the first goal came from forcing an error] Absolutely. The pressure was piling and we had a couple of opportunities, we had them camped in their half.

“It wasn’t a corner [that led to Charlton’s equaliser] but we have to deal with that, regroup and they got a little bit lucky with the ricochet and you’re thinking to yourself it probably sums us up a little bit at the minute. Little things not dropping for us, lack of good fortune but I spoke to them at half-time about dealing with disappointments and if it did come, make sure we regroup quickly and we did that. Then we looked like the team who were going to win the game. To score as late as we did was pleasing.

“We defended very well. We didn’t give them too many things at all. They hit us a couple of times in the first half on transitions, counter-attacks. But for the majority of the game we looked really comfortable.

“My heart rate probably didn’t get above 80 if I’m being honest, until we actually scored a goal – so for me that says it all in how comfortable we felt.”