In the second half I expected much of the same from the visitors and they didn’t disappoint, although I wish they had. They moved the ball around wonderfully, at times we chased shadows as they made neat triangles, overlapping runs and positive one twos.
We could have been ahead after just three minutes of the half, Lee Frecklington’s wicked volley went just over, but it showed fans a glimpse of what happens when we play football. I know some say we should do it more often, but the game plan was laid out and our lads stuck to it. One chance fired over doesn’t prove we’re not doing things right, but a final result does.
Michael Bostwick was very good in the first half, but in the second he was utterly dominating. Tahvon Campbell is a very good player, at just 21 he almost matched Bozzy for strength and won a few headers. They say you can’t put men against boys but I’d take Cambpell here all day long. Still, our main man was back on form, solid as a rock and putting in crucial tackles. I lost count of the times he flew in, safely of course, but with the sort of ferocity that gives forwards nightmares.
They kept playing their football, retaining possession and looking for openings, but what they did not do was threaten from inside the area. For all the nice football, they couldn’t find a way past our defence and that, in the main, was down to our centre half pairing. I know Wilson gets some criticism for his performances at right back but when you consider it isn’t his natural position, I think he does well. He won’t bomb forward like Neal Eardley because he’s not that sort of player, but he’s steady and reliable.
As the game wore on it became clear if we were going to get anything it was going to come from the left flank, because Bruno was, as always, virtually unplayable. Whilst we praise the two defenders for their contribution, Bruno constantly offered an out ball and seemed to have the beating of his full back too. One slip is all it takes and when we got that break we seized on it.
I’d been talking up Kellan Gordon as a winger and when his number came up I’ll confess I was delighted it was on the flank and not at right back. One minute later I was bloody ecstatic. Right place, right time, 2-1.
As they came out hunting the equaliser I felt we got some of our best football in, Akinde was terrifying them, dispossessing players, running at the keeper and being a proper nuisance. It was fitting that he got such a wonderful ovation when he came off, because he had worked his socks off, literally on the back of his calves. I felt today was his moment, his time to get the confidence and kick on. Like Greeny against Port Vale last season, this was the day that he felt the love at home and that we saw what he is all about. I hope it continues because if there’s one thing they lacked that we didn’t today, it was John Akinde.
Genuinely, if you look at their play, their approach and their style, the only thing missing was the big centre forward bullying and harassing. Campbell played well for them but he wasn’t the Akinde figure, the man looking to break the last line of defence and win things he had no right to win. If they had a Big John, it might have been different.
They don’t and we won the game, despite the six minutes of stoppages.
The relief around the stadium was evident, not just for John but for us all. The roar that greeted the final whistle was almost as loud as for the goals, such was the pressure that the three points lifted from us. Make no mistake at all, we’ve beaten a very good side today, not the Forest Green of last year that struggled, not the one form the National League season who lacked character and resilience, but a team who I predict will be top four. They’re good.
The fans were excellent too, the noise coming from the Coop was incessant and impressive. I rarely get to watch and listen from the other side of the pitch and I’m glad I’ve had the chance to do so. There’s nothing better than seeing our fans doing what they do, 617 in one corner, right the way across. Maybe it was a different perspective, but I thought the noise levels were the best this season and the reaction to them scoring has to be something the players find positive. Shay McCartan spoke in the programme of the great relationship between fans, players and club and it was brilliant today. You should all be proud of playing your part.
I’m going to pay a slight tribute to Mark Cooper now, much as it sticks in my throat doing so. He doesn’t harass the fourth official, he wasn’t the bully boy figure I’ve got him down for with his players either, he was reserved and calm on the bench. I’m not going to go as far as say I have any respect for him, but his team stuck to their principles, they played the game in a good spirit and were worthy adversaries. Let’s be honest, we won a game we really shouldn’t have done. Anything he says to that effect in his interviews is right, whatever context it appears on social media. I don’t like the man, but he’s got them playing good football, big budget or not.
This result was huge for us today. If we’d drawn, perhaps what we deserved at best, we would have got three points from 12, the same as winning one and losing three. Draws are no good, ask Mansfield and our opponents todays. It’s alright saying ‘we’ve lost fewer games than you’, but you don’t win titles by not losing, you win titles by winning. That might sound obvious, but fans and pundits go on about being unbeaten, it’s no good if you don’t win. It’s better to win two and lose two than to draw four.
That’s why one defeat in four is manageable, but three draws around it would not be. To win today gave us that edge again, that little leg up that I think we need to kick on. It puts the blip behind us and with a cup break, it might allow us to settle and compose ourselves for the winter period. Not for the first time, a game against Forest Green could well be seen as a turning point.
I know we weren’t pretty today and it’s drawn criticism. I heard a caller on Radio Lincolnshire who baffled me by saying he’d been massively disappointed by the game. How can you be disappointed? We beat Forest Green, one of the best sides in the division and we did it by playing to our strengths, by battling and fighting and showing proper character. People said to me after the game we have to play better if we want to go up, I asked why? If we play like that and win like that every week, we’ll go up. I’m not saying we played well, I’m not saying we shouldn’t look for improvements, but I am saying the there’s a time to be critical and a time to just say ‘we won against one of the top teams and we’re still on course’.
So I will. We won, against one of the top teams and we’re still on course.
Finally got to get a picture with this today too. My thanks to Peter Doyle, who had me as his boardroom guest today.
How could anyone be disappointed by that? Forest Green were awesome. I was on the edge of my seat throughout. To come away from that game with a win was a real achievement. FGR were the best side to come to the Bank since our return.
Fair, balanced and interesting analysis as always, Gary. Many thanks. Plus, love the pic!
Best team won – we wanted it so much more than they did. FGR are spineless, aimless tippy tappy mercenaries who must be very frustrating to support. No wonder only a pitiful 100 turned up. Mind you with Vinces’s millions behind them (subject of course to how long the rest of the Ecotricity shareholders will tolerate his generosity to FGR), it is frightening what they could achieve under a competent manager.
“Long ball Lincoln “ according to Mr. Cooper. I’ll take that as a compliment, and I’ll take the three points.
Great write up Gary. Tell you what, FGR would be real contenders for the title if they had held on to Doidge.
That’s your best analysis this season Gary, agree with everything said.
Was chatting to a bloke on the way out the ground about how good FGR were and imagine if they had John Akinde leasing the line
Excellent write up. I changed my mind a bot about the game on my journey home near Leicester. I left the ground elated of course but concerned about how Forest green gave s the run-around, particularly in the first half. I then heard about our injury issues, and also realised that football is about a complete performance. They were lacking at centre half and in the striker department – we starred in both of those, whereas they were eye-catching in their general play. It will be interesting to see what Danny does in January, particularly if Shay McCartan is called back. I cant help thinking a tweak in the support for John Akinde is needed somehow (not just based on yesterday).
Great write up Gary, a good read. One question: could you hear the chant “Mark Cooper, your a wanker” clearly from the Selenity stand? Hoping you did because that would mean he knows what we all think of him.
Yes, very clearly indeed!!
What grub did we offer their directors Gaz? Tofu, chick peas and quinoa?
See the cliches out from both sides, we were ‘long ball/direct’ FGR were ‘ineffectual tippy-tappy’. We mixed it but played to our strengths and Big John monstered their defence. I thought overall we were poor, uncharacteristically sloppy at times and lucky to get the win, but like Watersleyimp heard about the injuries and patching up which put a different perspective on the game plan and individual performances.
FGR were far from ‘ineffectual tippy-tappy’, they were constantly probing and asking questions but their weaknesses at both ends of the pitch evident, the likes of Grubb, Winchester, Reece-Brown and Archibald all highly impressive. Better than MK Dons but more noticeable flaws which might cost them. A good striker in January, a replacement for Doige, might make the difference between auto/playoffs or missing out. But they are such an arrogant club, that star b****cks, Vince and Cooper – the latter at least gained more resepect yesterday. Coop still called him right though.