Lincoln boss Michael Skubala challenged hat-trick hero Jovon Makama to now replicate his “incredible” performance against Bristol Rovers on a more regular basis.
Makama, 21, bagged the first treble of his professional career as the impressive Imps put the visitors to the sword at Sincil Bank for the second successive season.
And a delighted Skubala said: “Jovon was unplayable today. When I came into the building 18 months ago I said he had talent but we’d have to wait for it.
“The challenge from me is for him to consistently do that. But when he gets it right like today you see his quality and his power and physicality you see everything he’s got… it was an incredible performance from him.
“I still think he’s got more to improve and can still get better. That’s the crazy thing.
“He destroyed their left side and looked so good.
“His challenge is to keep pushing and getting better and making the most of the potential we think he has.”
Tom Bayliss and James Collins were also on the scoresheet as Lincoln matched the 5-0 win they recorded over the Pirates almost exactly a year ago.
Skubala added: “It was a great afternoon from start to finish. That’s what we want to look like. When we’re like that we’re electric.
“When we get it wrong we’re not so good, but we were electric today.
“The lads were brilliant. They stuck to the task brilliantly. We just had too much for them.
“Principally it’s never changed. It’s not that it’s changed over time. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Rovers lost their first game in four and, following impressive home wins over Huddersfield and Bolton, have now slipped back to being six points above the relegation zone.
Boss Inigo Calderon said: “I could see that coming from the start. We lacked that control.
“We were flat. It was a flat game from us. We didn’t have that energy.
“I understand the players. They could be tired. But you have to find a way, and they didn’t.
“I was happy with 1-0 at half-time because it was a really bad first half.
“But the two quick goals after half-time did us. When you’re having a bad day, conceding those two goals made it a really tough day.
“I don’t want to blame the players at all.
“There wasn’t one moment where we looked on top but I still told the lads we had to find a way.
“Players are going to be tired come the end of the season so that’s no excuse. We need to be better.
“We conceded five, but we could have conceded at any time. That’s why we are where we are because we aren’t at our best level.
“When we’re at our best level we can beat teams like Huddersfield but when we aren’t we can concede five. It’s as simple as that.”
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