news-engine

Adam Reach believes City demonstrated what they are capable of at Championship level despite suffering late heartbreak at Middlesbrough. Reach marked the Imps’ return to the second tier with a goal against his former club, putting his side ahead before the hosts struck twice in the second period to claim a 2-1 victory. There was understandable disappointment in the City dressing room afterwards, but Reach felt the performance against one of the division’s strongest sides provided plenty of encouragement for the challenges ahead. “We knew we went toe-to-toe with a team who were moments away from the Premier League last season,” he said. “Our job is to use what we’ve got to the best of our abilities and we did that for a long period. “For the first half an hour our energy levels were amazing. They were a little bit rattled and didn’t have the answers. “We’ve ended up coming out on the wrong side, but when we reflect on it over the weekend and come back in on Monday there are so many positives. “We’re back in the Championship after six decades. There are 45 more games to show what we’re all about and try to succeed.” Reach’s goal came following an excellent City move, with Freddie Draper helping the ball on before Tendayi Darikwa delivered from the right for the wing-back to finish. It was a particularly poignant moment for Reach, who came through the ranks at Middlesbrough and made more than 70 appearances for the club. “I think the goal epitomised what we’re about. We went long into Freddie, won the second ball and, in the formation we played, the wing-backs had licence to spring forward and join the attack," he said. “Tendayi put in a lovely cross from the right-hand side and I was coming in from the left. I didn’t really have time to think about it because it all happened really quickly. “I left Middlesbrough as a 23-year-old lad with only the fondest of memories, so for me I would never celebrate. Unfortunately it came in a defeat. When you score, you always want it to be in a win, but I’ll reflect on it as a lovely moment.” While City defended resolutely for much of the second period, Reach believes the manner of Middlesbrough’s comeback illustrated one of the lessons the Imps will have to quickly absorb at their new level. “The quality of the Championship means that if you give teams half-chances, sometimes that’s all it takes," he said. “We sat back a little bit too much in the second half. In a strange way, that’s because we’re so good at it. Naturally, we probably fell too deep too early because we know how good we are at defending a lead. “Although they probably had a lot of possession, we limited them to very few chances. But they took two of them and we’ve come out on the wrong side. “We’re so happy to be here in the Championship and we’re so excited to show everyone how good we are. I think we showed that, especially in the first half. “As soon as there’s a bump in the road, the best thing to do is get back on the road and continue. What an amazing run we went on. The run is over now, so we dust ourselves down, be proud of what we achieved and move on to the next achievement. “That’s probably going to look slightly different this year. We want to retain our Championship status, we want the club to be able to build on it and become a mainstay in this division. “That’s why we’re here. That’s why we worked so hard last season - for occasions like this.” Reach also praised the travelling Imps for their backing on City’s return to the Championship. “For us as players, the support from the fans was amazing,” he added. “We challenge them to do that every single game and, in return, they can challenge us to show the heart, determination and fight that we showed. “When we have that relationship working together, I think we’re going to have some special occasions this season for sure.”