What goes around, comes around: Imps 1-0 Tranmere

The game certainly felt a lot like the Burton clash, because the second half we looked a much better side. Michael explained how he had to perfect his half time team talks ever since his first game in management saw him 3-0 up at half time and end up drawing 3-3. He knows that is the time to influence the team and I felt he got it right. Of course, them being a man down didn’t help, but they defend well. Remember, they went a man down against Wycombe in the FA Cup and ended up winning. With Monthe and Nelson at the back anything too aerial was going to get mopped up and John was fighting a tough battle against two of the best aerial defenders in the bottom half of League One.

Mind you, this change only came about after what I feel was a stonewall penalty for them. Hepburn-Murphy got lose down their left and Harry Anderson could catch him for pace. He seemed to give him a bit of a nudge and the Villa loanee went down. If that is a Tranmere defender on one of our lads, I cry penalty all day long. Ok, we’re due one from Boyeson after the Bristol Rovers game, but it looked really harsh on the visitors.

We struggled to get much joy at first, playing nice football but coming up against two banks of four every time. Ellis lashed an effort off target, but by the hour mark despite our better play, we still didn’t look like scoring. It seemed a real surprise to see Joe Morrell taken off for Tyler Walker, but it must have made Ellis feel ten-feet tall. He was the player trusted to hold the midfield in the 4-4-2 role and he did it superbly. But for one other player (in my eyes), Ellis was Man of the Match and let us not forget, he was just as effective against Burton. I hope he stays in the summer because he looks to be developing very, very quickly indeed.

The change in setup gave us more fluidity up front and the chances started coming. My Dad said behind me he thought it had 0-0 written all over it, but I thought not. It wasn’t Shrewsbury all over again, in this game we were looking increasingly dominant and they lacked inventiveness. It’s not surprising, being a man down is hard work and their time-wasting showed a draw was going to be enough. I’m not criticising that either; game management is vital and we do it really well, so why shouldn’t they?

Harry flashed a shot wide, Jake Hesketh volleyed wide too. I felt a bit for Hesketh, he worked hard but it wasn’t his afternoon for me. Their defensive setup in the second half just didn’t help a diminutive number ten at all. However, them having to go a bit more direct in the second half did help us and in particular, Bozzy and Cian Bolger. They were excellent together at the start of the season and they were the same this weekend as well. Remember; we’ve only conceded goals from open play at home once in the league this season, that against Oxford. I missed that, so I can proudly say I haven’t seen us concede in the league from open play for the whole of the current season thus far. With Bolger at his best and Bozzy back in the side, I never felt we’d concede yesterday. I did feel we’d score though.

Tyler Walker added mobility to the front line and John, although not having his greatest game, was a real handful. We underestimate what he brings to the side merely by his presence and size. When we went two up top it gave them something else to think about. When Hepburn-Murphy went off for Stefan Payne, it gave us something less to think about. No disrespect to Payne, but he is fairly one-dimensional at times and was never going to get the better of our central defenders.

Finally, with 13 minutes left, we got our rewards. The ball worked it’s way to Eards on the right, he whipped a cross in which John took a bit of time to bring under control before lashing the effort into the roof of the net. It did bounce back out and into the keeper’s arms, but the replay suggests to me it was well over the line. I thought it at the time and I stand by that now too.

Michael Appleton has shown an inclination to defend stoically and he sent on young Max Melbourne to ensure we remained tight for the final ten minutes or so. Tranmere looked to come on us, suddenly taking very little time over their dead-ball situations whilst we were yelling at ball boys to leave the ball. It’s all very amusing when you’re winning and frustrating when you’re behind. Maybe we retreated a little, but with our defensive record at home (bar Oxford) it makes sense. They did have a late effort or two but never looked like getting level. By the time Boyeson brought proceedings to a close, we were good value for the win. Just.

I thought Jorge Grant was Man of the Match, but Ellis, Bozzy, Cian and Toff all had good games. It was the sort of performance we need at this level; full of heart and belief but also with that slight edge. Bozzy adds that and it’s no coincidence in my eyes that Bozzy’s return has brought back to back wins. The man just epitomised effort and commitment, never shirking a tackle, barely losing a header and leading by example. He is one I would love to see on a new deal next season because the young players I expect us to bring in need someone like him to learn from.

Jorge Grant’s range of passes impressed me and he was one of the players I thought was as strong in the first half as the second. He’s got such class on the ball and at one point he lost out, then chased back twenty yards to get the ball back. That’s something I suspect Michael has brought out in his game and we’ll be better for it.

I’ve seen some grumbles about Tranmere only bringing 330 but you know what? At £26 for an adult ticket, I’m not surprised. I thought it was class to see so many, given that they’ve struggled recently and the price I actually think the crowd was decent. They made a bit of noise too which is more than could be said for the last lot that visited on a Saturday afternoon; Sunderland.

We now enter a horrible run of games in which points will be at a premium and if we came out of Coventry, Oxford, Posh and Ipswich with five points I’d be bloody delighted. I do feel there is work to be done, but the signs of improvement are coming all over the field. The football is good, the chances are coming and maybe we’re being a little more clinical too. Perhaps some of our decision making in the area needs looking at, I would suspect Michael would like to see more made of our positivity pushing forward, but these are minor gripes. After our recent horrible run, we needed to get back to back wins purely for confidence, off the field as much as on it.

I go into the next phase of the season with a renewed confidence that was can sustain 11th-15th as our league position through the rest of the season and that, given the changes forced upon us in September, would be more than acceptable on our return to the third-tier.

Apologies for the pictures today; proud Dad Bubs was watching his lad make a debut for Spalding United meaning no match shots.

As a finish, I’d like to say thank you to the kind people who have become patrons of the site, as well as those who saw me in person to buy me a drink and even slide me a sly tenner as a thank you. Rest assured, all of your support is appreciated, as it is with those of you who have given a little towards Mayflower House in Boston.

Huge thank to Clive Woodhead who, without fail, sends me an expression of his gratitude every year, even since the Christmas of 2016. It touches me to know that what we write here helps enrich supporter’s experience and Clive is very appreciative of Malcolm’s articles which help bring a key era in our history to life.

Finally, another thank you, to Paul Stallebrass. He made an incredibly generous donation of a present for each of the young people in Mayflower House, our chosen charity this Christmas. Hopefully, we’ll help brighten up the lives of these 16-18-year-olds trapped between youth and adulthood without the benefit of a stable family environment.