I also find it amusing we (some fans and me) were sat talking before the game and everyone I spoke to told me they thought tonight would be a good point, as long as we back that up on Saturday. Just like everyone before the season started said if we were in touch of the top seven with a few games to go we’d achieved something excellent. Now we are in that position and I hear and read grumblings that we’re ‘not good enough’. Similarly, leaving the ground I heard moans about the draw, moans from people who before the game told me it would be a good point (yes Dad, I’m looking at you). Let me be very clear on my belief: that was a decent point. Yes, we could have won the game, but Wycombe are third and score a lot of goals, we could have lost it too. We now regain our top seven space and we still have a game in hand.
I’m concerned my assessment of tonight’s game might rub few up the wrong way, but I do pride myself on telling it how I see it. I’ve seen worse referees, far worse. I’ve not seen many teams who are as direct or indulge in game management as early as the second minute, but that is what Wycombe do, we knew what to expect. Once upon a time we cheered that sort of football. Many of you reading this talk fondly to me about John Beck and his brand of ‘football’, so please don’t criticise it now his apprentice is doing the same. At least Gareth is a gent off the field and at least he looks to gain his advantages whilst the teams are on the pitch, not with flooded changing rooms, salted tea and cold showers.
As for us, being blatantly honest I thought Freck was average, I thought Harry struggled and I thought Sam was below par too. I wouldn’t have picked Matt Rhead as man of the match either, but Lincoln City Banter voted so maybe I’m in a minority. I actually thought Alex Woodyard had a good game, he looked to keep the ball on the deck and work it out wide on numerous occasions, something that made a refreshing change from diagonals into Rheady or big punts from blue shirts. Bozzie was marking Akinfenwa and the big lump didn’t get a significant touch, so I’d say our own beast did well and probably deserved to be there or thereabouts in the man of the match voting. I thought Matt Green worked tirelessly again, remember he was being asked to play on the left of the striker, not the right as he usually does. I thought Scott Wharton had a good game too.
I also thought we wasted almost all of our set pieces, especially corners but also some free kicks in very good positions. For a team who are such a threat from set plays, it is criminal we didn’t make a single one count tonight. I know we have numerous ways of setting up from the corners, we run different ones each time I’m told, but the only one I saw tonight was where we lift it to the back post and it gets headed away. I’m not sure what the thinking is behind it, but it didn’t work.
We weren’t bad, not by a long way, we were the better side for 70 minutes, but for the final thirty of those we were the lesser of two evils. We should have wrapped the game up by 40 minutes but blew two great chances without the referee’s intervention, had he been a homer and given us the benefit of the doubt it should have been 4-0 at half time, with a penalty to boot in the second half. It wasn’t, we didn’t concede and our play off hopes are still in our own hands.
Right, now that’s clear I’m off to bed.
CLOSING DATE TODAY (WEDNESDAY 18th)
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Pretty much agree. Didn’t understand why Frecklington’s goal was disallowed but was early in the game and thought the chances would come. Thought Rhead challenge in first half was a penalty. Anderson made it easy for the ref not to give the second half penalty. Frecklington should have scored (as should Anderson) in the first half. Rhead did push the defender.
What I think:-
– I don’t think Green should not be playing down the left.
– Frecklington is still not quite on his game.
– Anderson was disappointing. Just runs in straight lines and makes it easy for defenders.
– You have to score when you’re on top. Not clinical enough.
As for Wycombe, very similar to Notts Co game at home. Football but not quite as we know it.
It’s early. I think Green shouldn’t be playing down the left!!
Allsop made 3 crucial saves aswell. I know that’s his job but were great instinctive saves
Largely agree.
I just wish referees would tackle time wasting (including ours) in a different way. Adding time on allows it and spoils the game for the spectator. Speak to the captain (and manager if necessary) and tell them cards will be produced quickly, then do it.
We lacked quality in and around the box last night, and lacked poise at vital times. Yes I agree we need another striker to complete the squad but we might have expected a better outcome with the players we have.
Wharton looked a class act again last night but I would nominate Allsop as man of the match for several critical saves.
Finally we are back in the playoffs. We might not be perfect but this is a miraculously transformed team I thought I would never see. Up the Imps!
Reckon you are spot on with the write up Gary. The game management ( that’s what it’s called these days ) seems to be the norm, it stops the rhythm of the match. Yes the ref wasn’t great in fact very poor. But have to say it was the same for both sides..
Wycombe weren’t great but I went to the first game and I thought then we would be ok in League 2 after that match. I haven’t changed my opinion.
It was a far better game than Port Vale and we are still in there with a shout it is in our own hands, there are still points up for grabs, and shooting practice must be on the cards this week before Colchester arrive. ( and yes they also do game management)
Keep up the good work Gary
Gary,
I concur with almost all of your excellent report, Danny knew exactly how Wycombe would play before the game, they did not disapoint. A draw was a fair result, given the number of clear cut chances each team created. Park the Wycombe game and lets concentrate on how to beat Colchester on Saturday, onwards and upwards, come on you Imps!
Spot on Gary , all supporters have differing opinions and interpretations the way Wycombe set up to time waste from minute one could have been changed by a stronger ref (comments above / Danny post match ) . Also by the Imps scoring as early as possible to change their game plan for them . I did at times feel rather embarrassed by wycombes ‘injuries ‘
Their plan to slow the game down was a tactic to be expected of scrapping teams lower down not a clearly talented team that play football and score goals.
I do feel they missed a trick as Exeter are now 2points closer to them and 3rd place after last night .
Anyway onto the Imps having been to all of the last few games home and away it is our lack of goals whether from open play or from out trade mark set pieces that is most concerning . This is not a criticism merely an observation , yes we are great at stopping goals against but need to find ways of increasing the for column at the other end of the pitch .
Whatever happens in the shake up we are making progress and we have to ask are we ready for a big step to League 1 just yet . Just saying not negativity.
From a Wycombe fan who travelled there last night, that’s a fair report. Rhead’s push on our defender was right in front of me and was worthy of a card.
Refs in this division are awful. They need to be professional. As for out time wasting, its part of the game these unfortunately, I hate it and the ref played over seven and a half minutes of the six added time at the end of the game, so it can still come back and bite you.
Some of your fans say we didn’t bring many. I think nearly 400 on a Tuesday night wasn’t too bad. I didn’t get home till nearly 3 this morning.
All the best for the rest of the season
Thanks Steve, I try to be fair. I think Rhead’s push is widely accepted as an infringement and even our fans can’t agree on the penalty. It wasn’t a football festival but it was a pulsating, passionate evening all round. All the best.
The referee did not cost us the game. He Will be promoted into the league above and was equal to both sides. We just came up short again against the top sides. It’s a shame we are clearly one good striker short of automatic promotion but the likes of Shockley at Exeter and Doidge at FGR are like gold. Let’s hope we get over the line and buy one come summer no matter what division we are in next season
Gary, I think you must believe like the majority of football fans that the laws of football are made by pundits of television. If you actually take a look at the laws of football, action involving recklessness, carelessness or excessive force are penalty offences but to correct you as I think you are wrong, contact in the box is not a penalty.
For what it’s worth I thought Anderson had n’t read the laws either and went down when there was contact , but not careless, reckless or excessive force contact.
We might as well give up on the game if it ever does become non contact!