We spoke to striker Richie Bennett at full-time at Sincil Bank on Tuesday to get his thoughts on his performance in his first ever run-out at the heart of the back line in the game against the league leaders.
Having picked up the fans man of the match award from the fans on Twitter, when asked whether he’d taken to playing at centre back like a duck to water, he said: “I didn’t feel like it!
"It was a good, solid performance from the lads and when you’ve got Gez [Anthony Gerrard] next to you, who is an experienced defender, it really helps.
"He talked me through it all, as did Macca [Macaulay Gillesphey] on the other side of me, and I just kept things simple and tried to do the basics. It was a great performance from the lads and a good point for us to take home.
“The lads really helped by talking to me through the game. The gaffer is big on communication and I was trying to talk to the lads in front of me as well, it’s all about giving each other as much information as possible. I felt a bit uncomfortable in the first ten minutes or so, but as the game went on I got to grips with what the other lads needed me to do and what my role was in there.
“When you play up front you pick up on what the centre halves are doing, and I think it was important for me to play next to an experienced player like Gez. He was pulling me round and telling me where to be and what to do through the whole game. It is really different, but it’s about your understanding and reading the game."
“We were playing against some good strikers and although people are saying I played well, we still conceded two goals, which is a bit disappointing," he commented. "If I was stood here with a clean sheet then I’d obviously be happier, but we’ll take a point against the top of the league team who are flying.
“They brought Akinde and Green on who are both good players and I thought we did alright against them. I thought Gez was strong and Jack [Sowerby] did a great job at right-back, which isn’t his natural position either. As a back four I thought we did ok, but as I said, we’d all have preferred a clean sheet."
“We started the game well and we’re pleased to come away with a point," he continued. "It was important to pick something up after the game against Macclesfield, and this gives us something to build on going into the home game against Yeovil.
“It was a very disappointing result for us all at Macclesfield, so it was important we responded, because it wasn’t good enough. We wanted to go out on the pitch tonight and make sure we put in a solid performance, we all put in 100% and it was good to come away with a point."
Ahead of tomorrow's home game against Yeovil, he said: “We know we need to start picking up points at home, we’re all looking forward to it and hopefully this result will give us all a bit of confidence.
"Individually and as a team I think we all put the heart and desire into the performance at Lincoln that the manager and the fans want. It was a good result, but we need to make sure we build on it and go into the home game full of confidence. If we show the same heart and desire that we have tonight, I’m sure we’ll be fine.
“It’s nice to hear that the fans voted me as man of the match on social media. I do think I’ve deserved criticism at times, but I know in myself when I’ve not been good enough.
"I’m big enough to admit that, and I just get my head down and keep working to get better. It’s nice to get a bit of credit as well, and I’ll just get my head down again now and look to keep improving. Whether I’m playing up front or at centre half, I’ll do my absolute best for the team.”
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