The Bluebirds manager saw his team slip to a 2-1 defeat that shook up the League One promotion race at a fog-bound LNER Stadium.
The loss did not knock Cardiff off the summit, but it did cut their lead to three points, albeit with a game in hand, while Lincoln climbed into the automatic promotion places following Bradford’s defeat at Leyton Orient.
For Barry-Murphy, however, the key point was the lesson they have to learn when it comes to coping when the contest turned more direct and combative in the closing stages.
“They made good substitutions and imposed their physicality on us at the end of the game,” Barry-Murphy said.
"We have a very young group of players who will learn so much from that, in terms of how we chase the game, based on whatever scoreline we are facing.”
Lincoln struck first shortly before the interval in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Reeco Hackett’s delivery caused confusion in the Cardiff area and Alex Robertson, attempting to cut out the cross, inadvertently diverted the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.
The Bluebirds responded positively after the break and were level just three minutes into the second half.
A slick passing move carved open the home defence, allowing Perry Ng to lift a composed finish over George Wickens to cap off one of Cardiff’s best spells of football.
“There was a spell in the second half where we played as well as we have done in a long time and the goal really showed that,” Barry-Murphy said.
“We were looking to kick on but their second goal knocked us a little bit. Credit to Lincoln, I thought they stepped it up late on and restricted the amount of times we could get back in the game.”
That decisive moment arrived on 67 minutes when Sonny Bradley rose at the near post to power home Tom Bayliss’ corner, sealing a fifth consecutive home victory for the Imps and ensuring Michael Skubala’s side emerged victorious from a clash between two promotion contenders.
Barry-Murphy felt the timing of the goals proved costly, particularly after Cardiff had begun to impose themselves.
“It is obviously a very disappointing result for us. I thought there were spells where we were at our best. Once we scored I thought we would go on and create more chances to try and win the game, but it didn’t work out that way,” he said.
“You have to give credit to Lincoln for how they restricted us. This is a tough place to come. Full credit to Lincoln for what they achieved today, we respect them.”
Despite the setback, the Cardiff boss was keen to stress that his team’s overall trajectory remains positive, even if there are clear areas for improvement.
“We have spoken about where the players are and what they have done. We are pleased with where we are but we are always looking to improve and that doesn’t change.
“There were many parts of the game I was hugely pleased with,” Barry-Murphy said.
"We were looking to kick on, but that second goal just knocks us a little bit and credit to Lincoln for stepping on the gas later on.”
“I thought there were spells in the game where we were really at our best,” he said.
“Once we scored that goal I thought we’d go on and create more chances to try and win the game. It just didn’t work out that way today. I have no criticism of the players.”
From Lincoln’s perspective, the win was another emphatic step forward in an impressive campaign under Skubala, who is keen for his side to maintain momentum.
Head coach Michael Skubala wants to keep “churning out the points” following Lincoln’s statement win over the Bluebirds.
“We have earned the right that teams will come here and know they are in for a tough game,” said Skubala.
“We keep putting the points on the board but for me the performance was superb. We just want to keep churning the points out.”
