The halftime whistle brought a good first half to a close with a degree of hope for City. I do think we’re a little shy in the box at times, not getting the right efforts at goal, and I stand by my assertion that one nights like these, where we need to be on the front foot, a different type of nine is preferred to Tom Hopper. He wasn’t awful in the first half, but all too often we broke down the flank and as he’d been back involved in play, he was away from the final delivery.
The second half was sadly not a patch on the first for us. Bolton had been forced into a change, Bakayoko had gone off, a real threat, and Lloyd Isgrove came on who wasn’t quite so much. Even with that enforced swap, they looked to be renewed at half time, as though our own reluctance to commit men forward gave them belief they could snatch something. Referee Sam Barrott was letting the game flow, certainly allowing some challenges to go which were free kicks, but I didn’t mind that. One moment saw Bolton break but their lad was clearly fouled, and the ref allowed play to continue. Seconds later, as we carried the ball forward, we were fouled and again, he let it flow. It was a competitive game, but one in which the focus was on the players, not the ref. More of this, please.
Our best chance fell to Scully, who found time in the box not long after the break to shoot, but he pulled his effort wide. He’s the only serious goal threat we have at the moment, which needs to change, and Michael knows that. Had he hit the back of the net, I think we’d have been able to see the game out, but he didn’t, and it seemed to affect our play. Suddenly, we were second to balls, and the away support (which was very good) lifted their players. Our passes began to get hurried and misplaced, and some players drifted out of the game. McGrandles, Adelakun and Sorensen all seemed to be passed by at times in the second half, and without Bishop, Maguire and others to bring on, we just didn’t have answers to the questions that posed. Bolton played with more assurance and intent, and the balance of the game began to swing.
When we replaced Scully with Bramall on 75 minutes, I was thinking a draw might be a good outcome. Two minutes later, it was game over. We know what happened, our eagerness to recycle the ball and get going led to a couple of bad decisions from first Josh Griffiths and then Tayo Edun. That saw Bolton sweep across the pitch as we would in their shoes, ending with Sarcevic stabbing home the only goal of the game (the man I called as the dangerman, Doh). I’m not going to moan, Edun had been superb again all game, but we didn’t deserve to lose. The difference between the sides was simple: they took their chance, we did not, we made a mistake to gift them a golden opportunity, they did not make the same mistakes.
That doesn’t bring you any solace I’m sure, but that’s how it was.
We might have got back into it with a wicked Adelakun delivery late on. His cross-cum-shot was perfect, across the keeper, on target and forcing him to push it away. Sadly, he was up to it, and we weren’t gambling on the loose balls. Michael picked it up in his post-match interview – after we’d got into the box some players seemed to think the job was done. It wasn’t, and even the introduction of a half-fit Dan Nlundulu didn’t change that. It was nice to see the on-loan Saints man come on, and Lewis Fiorini for his debut, but both need minutes and are not ready for league action.
There really isn’t much more to say. After the game, I hear some sections of Bolton’s support were a bit intimidating outside the ground, but I didn’t see that, all I saw was police everywhere, every street corner up to the bus station. I was oblivious to it all to be honest, I hate Lincoln losing and it’s been 558 days since I left a Lincoln defeat (Rotherham, 1-0), and it hasn’t got any easier. In fact, it felt a bit like the 4-3 defeat to Plymouth last season, leaving with nothing when you know you should have had something.
I maintain my assertion this Lincoln City side will finish between 10th and 12th this campaign. We’re playing nice football, but we’re just a couple of key figures away from being a top six side. That said, plenty of other teams are still settling into the division and although I would have liked seven from the first three games, we have already got points on the board. It would be nice to see a clean sheet for Josh Griffiths’ confidence, but those things will come when our key players return from injury, and Michael adds a couple more new faces. My rather bold prediction is this – if we added a striker to the ranks who could alternate with Tom, a selfish type who gets in the right attacking positions in games we need to attack the opposition, then this Lincoln City team could finish top six. Bold to say after a defeat, but we put the ball in good areas at times last night and with a Mo Eisa type, not a big-money buy, but a selfish scorer, we’d have had the game wrapped up long before our comedy of errors.
I’m off now, to say goodbye to Malcolm on a rather sombre day, and will barely give thought to last night’s events. I won’t get all mushy, but cherish your loved ones, because you just never know when you’ll be heading to a church to say goodbye. Football really isn’t more important than life or death.
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