My assessment at half time was simple. The game was there for us to lose, rather than for them to win. In other words, the result would be affected by what we did, good or bad, rather than Rotherham actually coming out and beating us. That wasn’t arrogant of me (although one Twitter user from Rotherham believes I am an arrogant neanderthal, which is nice) I just felt that we had answers to their questions and would only get beaten if we ‘pulled a Lincoln’. You know what I mean, like in the final minutes of the first half against Portsmouth where we were attacking on the right hand side and conceded a minute or so later.
Well, just a few minutes after the restart, we got a free kick in our own half and within sixty seconds the game was effectively won by Rotherham. I know it’s come from passing out from the back, but honestly, the tactic isn’t at fault. We can’t go long, not against a side with an average height of eighteen feet. Still, Jason Shackell once again looked to spray a fifty-yard pass like David Beckham, but instead miscued it to one of their lads like David Brent. We had a chance to deal with it as it came back, didn’t and Matt Crooks rose above everyone (by probably doing little more than standing on tiptoes) to power a header past Josh Vickers which, when I saw a replay, might have been saveable. Cue delighted scenes in the away end, a bottle being thrown at our keeper (not delightful people then) and the usual proclamation of ‘for f***s sake Shackell’ from Steve behind me, something he has to say on a weekly basis.
I found the goal really hard to take because I didn’t feel we were playing badly. If anything, we deserved to be ahead, although I don’t want to make out that we outclassed the Millers. They’ve got some good players; I called Crooks and Adelakun on the podcast, but Ogbene and Vassell were impressive too. That made it even worse if I’m honest; they are a good side and I feel we matched them, if not edged the first half. Still, when you’re down on your luck, or when a centre half is trying to Bend it Like Beckham, it’s hard to avoid trouble.
Having gone 1-0 down I always felt there was a route back into the game. The pressure did begin to tell a little though; some passes started going astray, Rotherham were happy to sit deep at the back and press high up top, trying to dull any potential we had going forward. The clear-cut chances of the first half were exchanged for agonising ‘if onlys’. John-Jules lashed a great cross into the six-yard box, if only someone had the foresight to charge in on it. Harry Anderson hit a drive from long range, if only he’d seen Jorge Grant seconds before with nothing but green space ahead of him. We weren’t playing badly, but the decision making which led to two excellent first-half chances began to elude us once again.
With 20 minutes left, Michael Appleton made a change and introduced a player who I believe will become a firm favourite here. I hadn’t seen anything of Anthony Scully, up until last week I hadn’t heard of him, but even with my failing eyesight, I could spot who was coming on. Not particularly tall, but stocky and with a confident stance, it was hard not to like him even as he sprinted onto the field. He looks like an old-school player, even his socks seemed rolled halfway down his legs in the manner mercurial geniuses of the seventies. He might only be young, he might need senior experience, but he’s got ‘it’, he’s got that something about him that I love in a footballer. There was something of the early Gazza, the early Rooney or the Le Tissier about him, in his stance and his style. I’m not building him up in terms of ability, but plenty of you will know exactly what I mean.
He was the architect of two late chances, the first from decent work down the right-hand side which saw him hook an effort at goal. From my angle, I thought John-Jules might have been able to stab it in at the near post, but instead, it ran on towards goal, only to be hooked away as it crept towards goal. A scrambled effort later saw the former West Ham man involved again as we pushed for a leveller I still believed we’d find.
Freddie Ladapo came on for them and failed to impress me for a third time this season, before the chance to steal a point came, and went. Scully it was (again) weaving his way past a couple of defenders on the edge of the area before feeding it into John-Jules, who couldn’t get enough on it to score. Four further minutes elapsed before Martin Coy brought the game to a close and we walked off with our heads held high, but pointless and goalless.
Superb game to watch and Bridcutt looked a cut above. Shame we couldn’t finish the chances but we matched a team that’s far in front of us in terms of experience. Great effort and Scilly looks a good fit too.
Exciting times if we have patience!
No Walker no strikers. No strikers no goals. No goals no points.
Tyreece is not up for it yet. Hopefully he will be at some point this season but as it stands he is very poor. Nothing from him. Maybe it’s time for Hopper to step up his game if he can ?..
Not much from Hesketh neither. But that is hardly any surprise…
Positives ? Bridcutt. If we keep him fit then him and Morrell will be the key to staying up.
Bright short cameo from Scully.
MK dons on Tuesday big game now.
Oh, and where is our Irish wing wizard Zack ? Fell off the bench and injured himself ? ??
Agreed. If you just want to moan, do it elsewhere FFS.
Why misogyny sucks in 2020.
Oh don’t be sexists guys, what knitting ?? That was good for my grandma… ? Maybe it’s not very humble ok, but I need to defend myself here. I do know something about football. I had no choice as I practically grew up on the terraces. Entitled to my opinion too.Try to respect my view as I respect yours… What moaning? It’s all facts in my comment above. Tell me where I was wrong? Hesketh? Rubbish… Tyreece? Rubbish… Zack? So far just funny.. ? (early days I know). Bridcutt? Could be a great and important signing. Scully? Promising. At which point I showed lack of football knowledge ? I know I can sometimes overreact and jump into conclusions to quick but most of the times I’m right and this is because I know ,,your” game.. Peace.. ?✌️
Feminist misandrist!
Haha pretty far from it.
Not doubting your knowledge, not being a misogynist, I am however saying that you are hardly ever constructive in your criticism. I’m sure the team love reading all your posts.
Not always constructive? Agreed. Sometimes I should just calm down before write a comment.. Team love reading my posts? I know? how could they not haha
Apart from the all too regular Shackell Short-Passing Horror Show or How to Give Easy Goals Away, I thought we put in a decent performance. By rights we should have had at least a point out of the match. Somehow we must start to put our chances away – which we can’t do it at the moment. But I’m upbeat about the new side. Scully and Bridcutt look really promising. So, lads,don’t throw cold water on my enthusiasm and blow it on Tuesday. And Shacks – PLEASE – no short give-away balls! Three (better four) good wins and we can all feel secure and positive that next season will bring rewards.
Spot on as usual sir.
No crtisism anywhere about Harry Anderson! Irrespective
of his industry… and indeed set piece goals that miss cost us big time last night. He is technically nowhere near!
Scully could be another Forester !
Agree George. Anderson was a liability as their fullback was creating havoc.he missed two chances he should have put away and the result would have been different.
Great game to witness though!!
I thought we played some of our most exciting football for some time. The 2 first half misses would have been goals of the season if converted.
Certainly Bridcutt was at the centre of most of it and he looks a fabulous buy.
Harry seems to have lost concentration and can be seen wandering about in the wrong place at times. Very bad miss but balls bouncing off his shins is part of his game!
Shack is stil a key member of the defence: positionally good, cool and a good organiser. He is being asked to play the ball out from the keeper and this is new to him, I suspect. BUT it is an essential skill of a class football team. Pep introduced it into England and Man City gave away loads of goals in his first 6 months – it paid off though!
Sadly I was not at the match as I was away with work. But it seems from conversations and reports on various platforms there was much to be admired in the display.
I seriously think a sharp dose of reality is needed here . Three great seasons under the Cowley’s but lets face it we couldn’t sink much lower when they arrived and yes I have been watching them for many many years.
MA is absolutely the right man for this period in the Imps development, it is clear where we are heading with a clear way of playing some exciting football and although results have not gone in our favour just recently, I actually think MA is ahead of where he thought he would be in terms of squad development at this stage.
One or two more tweaks in the summer and I really think we will surprise a few people both at the LNER and away grounds in this division.
In MA and the board we trust. I personally would rather have a club in the current form than one which may have been bankrupted by over spending on the playing budget.