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Paul Lambert left fuming at decisions as Ipswich Town fall to defeat at new leaders Lincoln City




Town boss Paul Lambert was left frustrated by the officials after he felt that key decisions inside the space of a minute decided the game at Lincoln City, writes Mikey Hale.

Teddy Bishop had appeared to have been fouled midway inside Lincoln’s half before the hosts countered and won the match-deciding penalty.

Jorge Grant finished into the bottom corner from the spot to claim a 1-0 victory for the hosts that moved them to the top of the Sky Bet League One table with Town dropping to fourth.

"We didn’t lose to Lincoln, we lost to the officials, in my opinion," Lambert, who was sent off following the full-time whistle, told iFollow Ipswich.

"That was a free-kick (on Bishop), as clear as anything. It was two, not just one. I think that was there for everyone to see. Then they went up and got a penalty.

"That’s a game that we should have never lost. Hopefully the head of referees looks at his performance."

Jack Lankester battles in the midfield for Ipswich Town at Lincoln City with Teddy Bishop (right) Picture: ITFC (42844477)
Jack Lankester battles in the midfield for Ipswich Town at Lincoln City with Teddy Bishop (right) Picture: ITFC (42844477)

Meanwhile, Jack Lankester insisted Town had to put the defeat behind them and move on.

“I thought the boys were excellent, we played some really good football,” Lankester told Dan Palfrey for iFollow Ipswich, following his first league start since returning from injury.

“I think decisions went against us and we were unfortunate. I think it was a foul on Bish (Teddy Bishop) and they get a penalty.

“I don’t know whether it was a penalty or not. From where I was, it didn’t look like it.

“You can never get too low. This is obviously in the past now and we’ve got to move on and go again Tuesday.”

The full interviews with Lambert and Lankester can be viewed via the club's premium content channel ifollow .

Match report

Jorge Grant's second-half penalty was the difference as Town fell to defeat at Lincoln.

Lincoln hit the woodwork while Oli Hawkins saw a header cleared off the line for Town in a goalless first period but Grant's 77th minute clinched the three points for the hosts.

Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert was sent off for his protests at the decisions at Lincoln City Picture: ITFC (42844475)
Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert was sent off for his protests at the decisions at Lincoln City Picture: ITFC (42844475)

Jon Nolan was given a straight red card in the closing stages to add to Blues' woes at the LNER Stadium, while Paul Lambert was also sent off following the final whistle.

Town made four changes to the side that lost at Doncaster in midweek with Stephen Ward, Teddy Bishop, Jack Lankester and Hawkins all returning to the starting XI.

Lincoln could have opened the scoring within the first four minutes after Jamie Jones drilled a dangerous ball across the face of the goal but Grant blasted over at the back post.

Grant went even closer a few minutes later, winning possession deep in Town territory before his deflected shot from the edge of the D cannoned off the post.

Ward saw his powerful drive blocked behind from just outside the box as Blues ventured forwards for the first time, Lincoln clearing the resulting corner.

The combination of Jones and Grant once again came close to breaking the deadlock inside a lively opening 20 minutes from The Imps as the latter headed wide from a cross that had been hung up to the back post.

Lincoln continued to dominate as Harry Anderson was played in behind the defence before dragging his effort wide from a tight angle.

Hawkins was denied his first goal in Town colours a minute later, his towering back post header from Andre Dozzell's corner being cleared off the line by Connor McGrandles.

Blues had Tomas Holy and James Wilson to thank for keeping the scores level at the break as The Imps went close twice in the closing stages.

First, Holy's outstretched leg turned behind Brennan Johnson's shot around the post when he looked set to score before centre-back Wilson headed the resulting corner clear from underneath the frame of the goal.

Grant drilled a low shot straight at Holy from 25 yards at the start of the second half before Blues had their best chance of the game at the other end.

Ward was brought down on the left-hand side of the box with Lankester's out-swinging free-kick being headed over the bar by Gwion Edwards from close range.

The game changed in one second half minute as Bishop thought he had been fouled midway inside the Lincoln half before the hosts countered and Nsiala was adjudged to have brought down Johnson in the box.

Grant gave Holy no chance from the resulting spotkick, firing his penalty into the bottom corner.

Jones could have put the game to bed a few moments later after winning possession 25 yards out from goal but Town's keeper raced across his goal and got a toe to his goalbound effort.

Jon Nolan was sent off for a lunge on Anderson in the closing stages as the hosts held on for the win.

The result, a second successive defeat after their unbeaten start, sees Town drop down to fourth in the Sky Bet League One table, three points off new leaders Lincoln.

Lincoln: Palmer, Eyoma, Monstma, Walsh, Edun, Bridcutt (C), McGrandles, Jones, Anderson, Grant, Johnson (Hopper 84).

Subs: Ross, Scully, Archibald, Soule, Gotts, Roughan.

Town: Holy, Chambers (C), Nsiala, Wilson, Ward, Dozzell, Nolan, Bishop, Lankester (Bennetts 79), Hawkins, Edwards.

Subs: Cornell, McGuinness, Woolfenden, Kenlock, Huws, Sears.