A 1-0 lead is precarious, but City rarely lose games from winning positions. The issue we have as Imps fans is fear, and the fear of this ‘bad run’ dragging on makes a 1-0 lead look slender, not commanding. What we wanted to see was a desire to make it 2-0, maybe more, as we came out for the second half. Too often, we have played well for one half and not the other, but luckily this energised Imps side din’t disappoint.
Within a minute, the Imps could have taken that all-important 2-0 lead. Regan Poole, who had a really solid game, found Johnson on the overlap, and his cross looked for Morton. The striker was so close to scoring, with Richards spilling the ball but Crewe managing to clear their lines.
The visitors always looked good in possession, but rarely dangerous, whereas City saw less of the ball but seemed likely to do more with it. On 51 minutes, Poole received Palmer’s clearance on the right touchline, nodding it into the path of Jones. He strode forward with real purpose, making up yards before finding McGrandles on the edge of the area. It’s hard to put into words how good he’s been since coming back into the side, and he only raised his profile more by controlling, cutting inside and finishing with aplomb to make it 2-0.
The game was in real danger of running away from Crewe as the Imps quickly hunted a third. Edun, who controlled midfield once he found his stride, spread a ball out to Poole. His cross was instinctive and accurate, with Morton getting ahead of his defender to stab at goal from six yards out. Somehow, Richards pulled off a super stop to keep it as 2-0.
Before the hour mark, the visitors had a fine chance to make it 2-1. You couldn’t say they folded and after bringing on Daniel Powell, who I thought was excellent at their place, and Mikel Mandron, they got the chance they wanted. A free kick from the left was cleared as far as Charlie Kirk, who fired a volley past Palmer and off the post. The rebound dropped to Powell, who caught his half-volley sweetly only for Palmer to parry to away from goal.
That shook the Imps a little, and for the next ten minutes or so, they went into game management mode. There was less of the forced attacking of recent weeks, and a return to the patient and measured build-up play we have become accustomed too. At 2-0, we needed no risks, no scares, and the players delivered. We did get one chance, Rogers finding Johnson in the channel with a neat ball. Morton looked a good option for a cross, but as he got crowded out Johnson just neatly touched the ball to Jones, who blasted over.
Adam Jackson picked up the Imps’ first yellow card of the game not long after for a rather crude challenge Tom Lowery, before Callum Morton was withdrawn for Tom Hopper. Morton had put in a decent shift and should definitely have had a goal for his endeavour, drawing the fine save from Richards. He’s going to be a big asset in the coming weeks for the Imps and his return is a big bright beacon of hope emerging from the injury gloom we continue to suffer.
We got a glimpse of Bramall’s good and bad side on 71 minutes. He tried to shepherd the ball out with Powell in attendance, only to lose out to the wide man. However, as Powell’s delivery came back, the tenacious former Colchester man got the challenge in to clear. It’s taken Bramall longer to settle than it has Poole, but he certainly impressed me throughout this afternoon’s fixture. Yes, it helped having a left-back at right-back for him to face, but going forward his pace was a real menace and it doesn’t matter what foot you kick with if you can’t catch the player you’re up against.
Crewe had a half=decent chance to get one back on 75 minutes. Edun was lucky not to be booked for a high boot on Kirk, but when the ball got placed for the free-kick, it had migrated to a good right central position, and a yard or two back from the 18-yard box too. Antony Evans, a player we were linked with in the winter window, stepped up and stroked the ball over Palmer’s goal.
With ten minutes to go, a great Imps move killed the game off. Tom Hopper won a challenge in his own half and broke down the attacking left. H caught a glimpse of Johnson in space and pinged a wonderful cross field ball to the winger. He controlled it in a single touched, stepped inside and smashed the ball into the roof of the net with power and purpose. 3-0, game over.
After that the attacking fizzled out from both sides. I was heartened to see Theo Archibald come on, and put in a good ten-minute shift on the left. He is very much a forgotten man this season, but I still believe there is a diamond in there if he gets a run of games.
The win keeps the Imps third, but it was the manner of the performance which should have people smiling. It has been a really tough week or three for City, drawing matches, making errors and being the architects of our own downfall. Today, against a side who have been playing well, we looked more like the Lincoln we have grown accustomed to seeing.
Despite a shaky start, Edun looked decent in the holding midfield role, and having two proper midfielders ahead of him gave us a solidity that I feel we didn’t have with Johnson there. As for the Forest man, he was sensational and I much prefer him on the flanks, teasing and taunting a full back. He worked so hard all game, tracking back and grafting for the team, he was a good pick for Man of the Match. On the other wing, Morgan Rogers looked slick and dangerous too, and he too put in a good shift without a hint of fatigue.
Even across the back, an area that has been problematic in recent weeks, I felt we looked strong again. Montsma had his best game for months, Jackson was a great captain and put his body on the line, whilst Poole and Bramall did their best impressions of Eyoma and Edun circa December with rampaging attacking displays and gutsy defensive outings too.
Overall, it was a massive win for us. If we’d lost, we’d be fourth now, but looking like play-off hopefuls and not top two candidates. With everyone else winning, it was vital we did too to keep the dream alive, and we did. Sure, Sunderland are within touching distance now, but above us the top two are being reeled in. Hull have still played two games more than us, Posh faltered and are now within two points too. Everything is boiling nicely for the last 14 matches.
It was at this stage last season everything stopped, and it is worth noting that if the same were to happen now, we’d be second on PPG and we’d go up. That’s how far we have come in 365 days – we beat Burton 3-2 a year ago with us looking at the teams below us, and a year on we beat Crewe 3-0 and are definitely looking up. It’s three goals, three points, Imps in third and the third time we have beaten a side three times as a Football league team since (you guessed it) 1982/83. All the threes, lucky Lincoln.
If we play as we did today in the next 14 matches, as well as getting Bridcutt, Grant and Walsh back, we might just take this hunt for Championship football right to the wire.
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