The second half started better for City, with the wind in our favour. The first chance of the half came on 50 minutes, Brennan Johnson finding space on the right-hand side. He looked to shape for a cross, instead shooting at Jones. The keeper couldn’t hold the ball, Hopper stabbed it back to Johnson, but instead of pulling the ball to McGrandles he took another effort which was saved. Wigan broke from that chance, but their surge forward came to nothing.
The second half certainly opened up, as it did in our previous couple of fixtures too, but the wind played a big part. You might be forgiven for thinking the wind played no part in the first half, because the home commentary never mentioned it, but suddenly it came into play in the second as City hunted a winner.
On 54 minutes Bramall used his pace to get into space on the left, but his cross was only touched by McGrandles with Jones waiting to collect with ease. City kept the pressure on though, and should have gone 2-1 up on 56 minutes. Grant delivered a corner into a good area and Montsma had a free header ten yards out, but could only steer the ball into the side netting. It was close though, and Lincoln supporters around the world were doubtless up and out of their seats.
It certainly wasn’t all City though, with the home side not looking like a team in danger of relegation. They applied plenty of pressure around the hour mark, getting three corners in succession. The wind certainly made any delivery unpredictable, but finally the third was graciously gathered by Palmer.
One player who impressed me was their right-winger, Viv Solomon-Otabor. I’ve watched him a bit in the past, when I used to write about Championship football, and he’s always impressed me. He asked a lot of questions of Bramall in defensive areas and often came out on top. On 68 minutes, he got the better of our new arrival and fired a wonderful cross in front of the six-yard area, which Lang was inches from stabbing home. The commentary team likened it to Gazza, Euro 96, which I’d also written in my notes. Fine margins.
City did have more attacking intent than in the first half and Grant got a chance to get an effort on goal. Johnson, who is showing signs of fatigue in some of his runs, picked up the ball deep and surged forward, only to be felled as he got to the edge of the area. Grant bagged a great free kick against them at Sincil Bank, but he didn’t put this one on target and the scores remained level.
As I suggested on Match Day Live, we got to see 20 minutes of Max Sanders, he replaced Edun who had been solid enough in the middle of the park. The obvious intent was to add some fresh legs in front of the back four, as much of the opposition plan was big balls into the area and looking to pick up seconds. With renewed energy in that area, Michael (who was at the game, by the way) clearly wanted to ensure we had control.
Just two minutes later, City went ahead. Rogers (and Johnson) are easy targets when things don’t go well, but both have the ability to make magic happen, as does Jorge Grant. It was the on-loan Manchester City man who started the move, picking up the ball from Alex Palmer and busting forward, before finding Grant. The captain hit a lovely ball through for Tom Hopper, who made up yards into the area before checking onto his right foot and slotting the ball home. It was a wonderful strike, not quite Callum Lang sensational but one that needed teamwork, technique and plenty of energy. I shouted so loud, Fe knew we’d scored despite working at the bottom of the garden.
After taking the lead against Sunderland, a tired City invited pressure and we seemed to do that again, almost gambling on the fact they wouldn’t break us down. Sanders showed plenty of tenacity but gave away a free kick in a good area on 81 minutes, which Aasgaard smashed over the bar.
Chances began to come thick and fast for the hosts. A cross from Darikwa from the right-hand side found Proctor in acres of space, he pulled the ball down but made a hash of his volley and sent it over. It was Darikwa again on 86 minutes, providing another good ball from the right into the corner of the six-yard area. Lang got the better of Montsma in the wrestling match, but his diving header went over.
The home commentators were frothing at the mouth for a penalty on 87 minutes, claiming handball and a foul. Watching back, they deserved neither and got neither, but as Palmer dragged his heels taking the goal kick, Trevor Kettle flashed a yellow card. Kettle had a better second half, the game flowed easier but he certainly let a few heavy challenges go, for both sides. He seems to be one who likes a flurry of yellows and then nothing for a few minutes, as he booked Adam Jackson for something I certainly missed, possibly dissent.
I was utterly delighted to see Remy Howarth coming on with three minutes to go. My fear was his lasting legacy would be the penalty miss in midweek, but the shallow nature of our squad means there is a place for him from the bench. I do like Remy, he’s a great personality, so to be so wrong about his future pleases me.
From somewhere, Kettle found five minutes of injury time, which was enough for Will Keane to have a couple of chances. Whilst Wigan had been direct all afternoon, they were unashamedly so in the final few minutes, smashing big balls long whenever they could. One, with just a minute or so left on the clock, was flicked on by Proctor to Keane. He twisted onto it, much like Nathan Arnold at Gateshead, but his connection was poor and it lopped up and onto the top of the goal.
With seconds left, another long ball caused panic at the back. We didn’t seem to be able to clear our lines and eventually the ball dropped for Keane, five yards out on the angle. He was marshalled by a couple of defenders and his hurried shot hit the side netting. That saw the clock roll towards six minutes of stoppage time, and the big ball forward from Palmer was the last action of an engrossing if not classic encounter.
My Man of the Match was probably Tom Hopper, but I don’t think I’m being harsh when I say there wasn’t anyone who stood out too much. Regan Poole had a decent enough game at full-back, and Bramall certainly showed his attacking intent. I see a lot of early Harry Toffolo in Bramall, great forward play but occasionally needing some coaching at the back. In terms of defence, it would be remiss not to commend Montsma and Jackson too, a difficult afternoon of high winds and high balls might not be conducive to free-flowing football, but it did give them a fresh challenge I felt they rose to well.
The big wins these days are not just getting three points, but looking elsewhere to see who has not. Three weeks ago, we’d have prayed for Doncaster to lose, but this afternoon their late goal against Hull means two teams behind us drop points. Portsmouth, hit by the absence of Kenny Jackett, also lose ground, and Accrington’s advantage in terms of games in hand looks to have slowly evaporated as they were held by a spirited Shrewsbury Town. Peterborough’s rise looks ominous, they have won four on the bounce, but Crewe, Ipswich and Wimbledon at home are all winnable for any promotion-chasing side, as is Gillingham away (as we know). In the same period, we face Swindon, Fleetwood and Crewe at home, and Plymouth away, they have just one home game, Wigan, with trips to Plymouth, Oxford and Burton, before Hull visit on March 9th.
The truth is we don’t need to worry about anyone else if we keep winning. Today, we won, albeit a game we perhaps deserved to draw. That is what good teams do though, is it not? We won when we played well, at Northampton and at home to Burton, when the pundits purred. The purist might not have enjoyed this afternoon as much, but once again we came out on the right side of the result.
As for Wigan, on that showing, they won’t go down. There are worse teams than them, that’s for sure, and if they can cut out the silly mistakes they’ll be fine. Tilt marshalled Hopper superbly in the first half, and with that, he suffocated our attack. I’ve mentioned Solomon-Otabor before and Darikwa looked a handful coming down the flank too.
As things stand now, we only play one top-six team in our next 14 matches, that being Sunderland on March 20th. Of the current top six, we only have Hull to come to the Bank, and we have trips to Posh in the penultimate game and that tie back on Wearside. My gut tells me by the time we do travel to Posh, the top two spots will be decided, so we really do have our fate in our hands.
Play badly, play well, injuries or not, this Imps team always show character, spirit and application. Wherever we finish, you can’t ask more than that as a fan.
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