One Step Closer: Mansfield 1-1 Imps

For ever bit as bad we were in the first half, I thought we were good in the second. I know it wasn’t ‘Oldham second half’ good, but we weren’t playing ten men and a disinterested manager, we were playing eleven men and a surprisingly genial David Flitcroft.

I don’t like Flitcroft, I don’t like Mansfield but (contrary to what some feel) I do try to be fair. They’re a good side, nice and compact and they stick to the game plan. It was like a home game for us in the second half, not just because of the noise. We had to go and break them down, they were clearly happy with the one goal lead.

It was almost as if we were playing Pontoon and they’d got 19. They chose to stick, fearing all out attack could see them conceded. They bet on us not being able to break down their resilient bank of three and four. They dropped deeper too, happy to simply soak up the pressure and see what we had to offer.

Our own approach remained constant, but it began to pay dividends. Those who think we’re long ball (various calls of ‘hoof’ every time we went long proved that’s what the natives thought), ought to look again. We can go long, but we didn’t do that constantly last night. When a chance came to get it into big John, we did. However, we also played some nice, patient build up play. 

The usual route is to go down one flank, full back to winger, back to full back. The winger peels off but if the runner tracks him, we come inside, usually switching sides and trying the same on the other flank. It can be tedious for those who want constant chances, but it’s patient and measured. It was never more evident than last night, us probing carefully but deliberately, them snuffing out where they could.

The difference always seemed to be Danny Rowe for me. He’s the ‘wild card’, the one who doesn’t conform to the rigid process. He’s clearly got license to carry the ball, to duck and weave and make something happen. Harry Toffolo, excellent again last night, fed Bruno on many occasions. They like the neat interplay, the little knocks around the corner. Neal Eardley is more direct with Harry, he plays it over the top for our own bull-in-a-chins-shop Harry to batter his way onto. It’s planned, they get away, often lay back for a cross.

With Danny Rowe, it’s different. He gets the ball and the pattern becomes unpredictable. He might look for a channel runner, he might go outside himself or look to the feet of John Akinde. Of all the players, he was the one I thought might get a chance.

Arguably, Bruno’s long-range drive after cutting inside was the closest we got. Mansfield’s back three was superb, checking runs, blocking passes and may I say, blocking runs too. No complaints from me, we do it but one corner in particular showed them at it. Logan came out for a ball and their lad never looked towards the keeper or the swirling cross, he eyed our player and got right in the way. Sure, I could moan about it but it’s be hypocritical. We do it, it’s part of the game.

The referee, who looked like someone had just drowned his cat, had a good game too. Plenty went on from both sides, blocks, nudges and afters. If a weak referee had got the game it would have been punctuated by free kicks and fouls. He let it flow, miserably, but he did. He had one big decision he needed to get right and he got it spot on.

Little moan time: Bruno goes down to easily. I love Bruno, he’s exciting on the ball and often gets a cross is from impossible angles, but the slightest touch and he’s on his arse. If he did it a little less frequently, maybe it’d pay dividends, but when it doesn’t come off he looks a bit foolish. He went down last night on a couple of occasions when I’m pretty sure the contact wouldn’t have floored your average six-year-old.

Harry Anderson though, he’s different. Because he’s bullish, stocky and strong, when he does go down referee’s tend to believe him. I’m thinking Bury as a fine example. Last night there can be no complaints at all about the foul. 

Oddly, after a game in which our other chances came from a patient build up, this was route one. Gilks down the middle, flicked on by John, hooked on by Danny Rowe and Harry raced clear. There wasn’t any real danger, yet Conrad Logan had a rush of blood and we’re back in the game. No arguments from Stags’ fans, I’m sure.

If there’s one player you’d want to take a penalty in that situation, it’s John Akinde. I don’t care about the Notts County miss, he’s as cool as you like from twelve yards. After the game he had me chuckling with a typically direct answer. He was asked if he always felt confident at penalties, to which he replied ‘it helps when the keeper falls over’.

That’s John. I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and he’s a man of few words. He’s to the point, but he won’t furnish a conversation with adjectives and description. You ask a question, he answers it. Last night he was asked a question again, one involving big penalties and bottle.

He answered it with aplomb.

After the goal Mansfield’s second half tactics were laid bare. Oddly, Flitcroft took off Jorge Grant, booked for diving and only showing flashes of his talent, but surely one of their most creative players. Their one decent chance had come on the break with CJ Hamilton, but he’d been forced wide enough by Harry Toffolo not to be a threat. 

For the embarrassment of riches they have in their attack, they offered very little in the second 45 minutes. Of all the loan players on display, Grant, Walker, Rowe and the rest, Danny Rowe stood out. Tyler Walker looked dangerous at times, uninterested at others. 

I never thought we’d lose the game after the goal, which is exactly what happened. It was classic Lincoln City, fighting through a few loose touches and an early knock to come out on top. I think it’s why the Stevenage result hit us hard, because it’s the exact opposite of what has made us strong.

Mansfield now go into a foot race with MK Dons and Tranmere for the final automatic promotion space. I can see the Stags getting it by virtue of being well organised at the back, but Flitcroft needs to look at the keeper situation. He could also do with exploiting some of the wonderful attacking player he has. I’ve not seen MK Dons recently,  but both sides look likely to draw a lot of games.

Maybe, just maybe James Norwood might have a big say in who finishes in the top three.

Enough about them. We’re 15 matches unbeaten now, encompassing a run of draws everyone thought would be damaging to us. Three of the four so-called tough matches away; Bury, Mansfield and Forest Green, have been dealt with. We have a six point gap, still a twelve point ‘real’ gap over fourth place and now just eight matches to play. 

I barely dare utter the words but, in my honest opinion, we’ve got one foot in League One. I know the huge points gap makes it obvious, but there’s always that nagging doubt, there’s always those ghosts of the past ready to remind us of what happens to complacent teams. I just can’t see us throwing away such a big lead in such a short space of time. 

I can’t see Danny Cowley’s Lincoln City playing anywhere other than League One next season and I’m as excited as hell about the future.

Eight more games, but I’m backing us to have it wrapped up in five. Carlisle on Good Friday? Maybe. Tranmere on Easter Monday? Book the Tuesday off, that’s my advice because we’re painting the town red and white that night.

Red and white.