Last season 'biggest learning curve' - Imps' Draper

Freddie Draper doubled Lincoln's advantage against Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup

Lincoln City forward Freddie Draper has labelled last season "the biggest learning curve of his career" after scoring in the Imps' 3-1 victory at Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup.

The 21-year-old grabbed his first goal since February and following the match gave an honest explanation for his previous 12-match goal drought.

"The way I came back last year wasn't good enough, really, for what I know I can do," Draper told BBC Radio Lincolnshire.

"My target is not having another season like last year – that just isn't me. I know I'm never going to be the fittest anyway but it's about putting myself in the right way."

Much was expected of Draper when he returned from Walsall, where he scored 10 goals from 22 appearances in League Two during the 2023-24 campaign, but the forward registered four goals in 37 league appearances on his return to Lincoln.

He explained: "I was at Drogheda and then I went to Walsall and I went straight to Lincoln, I only had about a week in 18 months where I had a holiday.

"Then I probably went on too many holidays and tried to enjoy my break, so this season, I planned it a little bit better.

"I made sure I did all the runs, made sure my weight went down – I got leaner, stronger and more athletic.

"Last season was the biggest learning curve of my career. I don't want to let that happen again. I want to do everything I can: control the controllable."

Against Harrogate, Draper played up front alongside Rob Street, linking up to good effect and could have scored, before his goal eventually came, when his diving header in the first half was well kept out.

But Draper was self-critical of his misplaced pass which was intercepted by Harrogate's Ellis Taylor, who grabbed a consolation goal for the hosts deep in stoppage time with a long-range strike.

"I'll learn from it. I won't get carried away, [I'll] play simpler, and [next time] get the clean sheet because it's important for the team," Draper said.

"At the end of the day, it's not really good enough. You wouldn't do that at 1-0 would you?

"I'm a little bit disappointed because I was pleased with my performance and that kind of puts a dampener on it.

"As a footballer, you just think about the bad things instead of the good things, so it humbles you quickly."