A season is a series of little battles making up a whole war. From August to May every season we’re involved in warfare, battling on a weekly basis for points that will ultimately leave us victorious.
Sometimes we’re battling familiar foes, sometimes the enemy are strangers. On some occasions the battle is one-sided, it can be won on the pitch or it can be swung on the terraces. Every so often a battle comes along that means more than three points. What we must remember is that a win only ever brings three points, whether it is 6-2 or 1-0, home or away, against an old foe or new faces.
Yesterday was one of the battles we’ll remember for a long while, not because it was particularly thrilling, but because of the opposition. Games against Grimsby always take on an edge, they’re always a little bit more important because of bragging rights and local pride. The rest of League Two see we got three points and an extra goal in the ‘for’ column, but we feel like we’ve taken a major step forward.
We haven’t. Let’s be grounded and remember we’ve won a game against a League Two side who have lost three on the spin and had a horrible start to the season. Take away the fact they’re local rivals, this was simply a routine game in which we were expected to win.
Few mid table teams will come backed by 1,500 fans though. Few away attendances of that size will make such little noise all through a game. I’m not saying that out of spite, but I’ve seen matches at the Bank where the travelling fans have been loud and proud. Aside for an angry mob at the front I thought they were relatively quiet, although aside from our own vocal group in Block 7, we were too in parts. Maybe it’s the early kick off that does it. Only the hardcore fans have fuelled up on ale or whatever else they use to power themselves these days.
The rest of us sat in the car with the engine running before the match to make sure we kept warm and got a parking space.
In terms of team selection, I got it spot on with my prediction on Football League World on Friday. Cian Bolger started, a towering ginge at the back, with Danny Rowe on the bench. I didn’t think Rowe would play a part as he’s been lacking in minutes recently, but he was there nonetheless.
There was a real atmosphere as the teams came out and for a while it felt as though it might continue through the game. Both sets of fans were at each other which is how it should be. They have one song they like, where were you when you were shit? We tend to applaud that these days, not least because of crowds during the Keith era only being a couple of thousand shy of where we are now. I wish there was a song that went ‘why haven’t you capitalised on National League promotion like us?’ but it doesn’t flow off the tongue. Mind you, neither does the Bruno Andrade song, not that we heard that yesterday.
The first ten minutes were frantic with both sides looking dangerous. I’m an admirer of Elliot Embleton in their midfield and I called out Wes Thomas too, he’s a live wire with a nice touch. He reminded me a bit of Matt Green the way he approached the game.
At the back Grimsby looked unsure, but by the seven minute mark both teams had corners under their belt and referee Mike Dean had made his first booking. Michael O’Connor was the recipient of the card and that could have left him walking on eggshells all match. As it was, the sponsors eventually gave him Man of the Match which is testament to his ability to play under caution as much as anything.
Freck gave them a nice scare too, I thought he had a good game all afternoon, always looking to break through the middle. One complaint I’ve had of us recent is a lack of penetration around Akinde. The big man has look isolated, we need to see support popping up on the overlap.
Freck’s stinging drive didn’t find the target, but it was refreshing to see us having a pop from distance. Given how well McKeown has been playing recently I wondered if it might be a fruitless task. A few minutes later I found out it wasn’t.
Usually, I find the delight at getting a second corner leads to disappointment, but on this occasion it decided the derby after ten minutes. From our second delivery the ball came out to Harry Toffolo who rifled in from the edge of the area. It was a nice clean strike by the left back, there’s little doubt the keeper saw it late but it didn’t matter. Somebody pressed the mute button in the away end as the Imps’ led.
Overall, the game suffered because of the goal. As a spectacle it changed instantly, we seemed a little more content to spread play and let them try to pick us apart, whereas they didn’t show the sort of reckless abandon they might have done had we bagged an opener on 65 minutes. They stuck to their game plan, we retreated a little and the neutral, if there was one in the ground, saw the game shrivel into itself.
It wasn’t helped by a finicky display by referee Mike Dean, pulling out cards like it was still Christmas. He wasn’t making fundamental mistakes, that would be unfair to say, but the game didn’t flow. It favoured us of course, we were 1-0 up, but again as a watch it didn’t help. Coupled with the early kick off and it felt like the goal had poured water on the smouldering fire of the Lincolnshire derby.
Occasionally there was a spark of something at both ends. Cian Bolger’s only real mistakes in the game came within seconds of each other, once failing to find a teammate in attack and then not clearly adequately from the resulting break. The fact he even got back was impressive though and thankfully when Grimsby worked the ball to Embleton he should have done much better. From there we broke, Harry Toffolo teed up John Akinde but he scuffed a weak effort at the keeper.
As the half wore on the visitors did look like getting back into it. We were resolute in the last line of defence, but retaining possession further up the field looked difficult. John Akinde wasn’t looking his usual self and the wide players couldn’t get on the ball long enough to create anything. Grimsby were wasteful when they did get a chance, our excellent back four and holding midfielders kept them at bay. Behind them, Grant Smith was in fine form too.
A couple of bookings really got me angry at the end of the half. Firstly, a Grimsby foul didn’t draw a card from the top flight referee, but Toffolo got one for allegedly time-wasting at the free kick. It seemed disproportionate to the misdemeanour, as did John Akinde’s booking for the ball hitting their lad in the face. If we’re being honest, we were probably lucky not to be punished for a nasty aerial challenge in the first half though, so it evened itself out. In the heat of the derby it’s easy to be less objective, especially when everyone around is yelling at Dean before he’s even blown for kick off.
Interesting article Gary. Although not the greatest game with not many chances created, I really enjoyed it. It felt like we had put the tiredness of the Christmas and New Year break behind us, Bolger looked a great addition immediately, and Danny Rowe reminded us how exciting he was last time round. Our shape looked good when it mattered. It felt like the ref misjudged the level of play in some way. Has he had many EFL games in the last couple of seasons? I disagree about the Toffolo decision. He had made it clear he was watching for time-wasting and eye-balled Harry, who looked like a naughty boy ignoring three requests to take the free kick. Onwards and upwards! Up the Imps!
I have reviewed the sending off a few times now and come to the conclusion the goal keeper did not make contact with the ball and had two feet off the ground at point of contact. 2nd you are out of order with the ginge thing its not polite or ethical. Thirdly we have a major dilemma going forward. We have a problem creatively. I desperately want Akinde to do well but he lacks fitness is slow to read situations and cannot for the life of him, jump. I expect him to be rested Tuesday. Defensively we have a choice of two from four at Centre half…. I expect for the time being we revert to the regular two.
You are wrong about akinde he is doing well, Danny only speaks positively of him, we are top of the league, and as a team scoring goals. Same happened with Green last season due to team tactics. Nowt wrong with the label ginge when it comes from a fellow ginge. I haven’t watched the red card back yet.
Don’t think hair colour in a football blog is relevant that’s all. I feel desperately sorry for John I think he has a really difficult job.
Oh dear.