Bolton boss Steven Schumacher admitted “it’s a bigger job than I expected” after seeing his side’s League One play-off hopes crash and burn in a 4-2 defeat at Lincoln.
The Trotters had fought back from two goals down to level by the break, through Jay Matete and Alex Murphy, after Erik Ring and James Collins, with a penalty, had put City 2-0 up after 17 minutes.
But a second-half header and an ingenious free-kick from Reeco Hackett put the Imps back in the driving seat, with Bolton’s woes compounded by Josh Dacres-Cogley’s stoppage-time dismissal.
“We didn’t start very well and they were on top,” he lamented after seeing his side lose for the seventh time in nine games. “We were too passive and conceded two poor goals.
“We worked hard to get back into it, but they didn’t have to work hard for their goals and we come out of it disappointed again.”
He went on: “Yes, there’s some talent here, but I don’t think it’s got the mentality to get promoted, so we need to make changes and the summer can’t come quick enough now.
“We need to learn to defend better, do the basics better. We are just too easy to play against. We have all the signs of a poor team. I know we have loads of injuries, but that’s no excuse.
“It’s another under-achievement of season and, yes, the players have let us down. This club shouldn’t be in League One, but it has been for too long and mistakes have been made. And yes, it’s a bigger job than I expected.”
City took the lead after 10 minutes when Ring’s cross evaded everyone and bounced into the far corner.
Collins made it 2-0, smashing a penalty high into the roof of the net after Ethan Erhahon had been taken out by David Abimbola in the box.
Bolton reduced the after 28 minutes, with Matete striking low and hard past George Wickens from 20 yards, before Murphy levelled nine minutes later, heading in Dacres-Cogley’s cross.
Collins grabbed his second, heading Roughan’s superb cross past Nathan Baxter after 53 minutes, before Hackett added the fourth, curling a 30-yard free-kick into the net off the near post after seeing the keeper defending the far post.
Dacres-Cogley was sent off in stoppage-time for picking up a second yellow card.
Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala hailed his in-form side, who made it five games unbeaten.
“What a game, it had everything,” he said. “I loved us again. I thought we started so well, we looked dominant and threatening. We were so good and it was like how we want to be.
“Tactically, in the second half we were brilliant. I was looking for us to spoil another party and we did that well. There were so many good performances out there.
“I have said it before and I’ll say it again, you cannot question the character and motivation of this group. They are not on the beach and they love winning.
“We keep learning things about this group and it was a quality performance.”
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