Getting to half time was a big plus – I think had Derby scored then momentum would have swung. The early goal was big for us, it gave us something to defend, but it also clearly gave certain players confidence. TJ was a different player once he’d shrugged off those early moments, but would that have been the case at 0-0? We scored and some of Derby’s players began to look deflated, all on a goal. We’ve already seen this season how conceding affects us at home; it certainly did against Fleetwood. It’s not every game, but with such a high-pressure atmosphere, I felt a Derby goal to level would have been enough to give them the advantage. Instead, we leveraged the opener to foster a real team spirit, and we defended so well.
The second half started at a breakneck pace, and both teams could easily have scored. I thought Derby looked much hungrier after the break, and for a while it went from end to end barely giving us enough time to take a breath. There wasn’t many golden chances for both teams, but there was a pace and intensity to the play. We pressed high, Derby took risks and it just meant you couldn’t take your eyes off the game at all.
At this point, I want to mention the referee, Thomas Kirk. I thought he was excellent throughout, and there was a single decision I didn’t agree with, a free-kick late on for them and a booking for O’Connor. That aside, I thought he got the big calls right, let things flow and generally didn’t make it about him. This was the biggest game of his career so far and on that showing, I suspect we’ll see him ascend the ranks fairly quickly.
Of course, the game changed in the 66th minute, with a quick decision and two key moments that flipped our emotions. The first was a rare lapse in concentration that saw an attack break down, with Derby breaking at pace. They played their way up the field and created a chance for Mendez-Laing, who fired confidently into the roof of the net. Was it offside? I couldn’t see from my angle, and even the replays are marginal, but some I know in block seven said there was daylight between the players. That’s good enough for me, and within minutes the deflation at seeing them level turned to elation.
It was that man Diamond again, jinxing through and having a half-decent effort at goal. In reality, it was never going in, but it dropped kindly for Ben House, who seemed to have far too much time to adjust his body, shape up and slot the ball home from 12-yards out. The ground erupted, and understandably too; the game had felt a lot like a cup tie, with big names in the opposition team, a big club visiting for their 5,000 game and the general apathy outside the ground about a result. Even the rousing rendition of God Save the King before the game, coupled with it being their 5000th outing, added to the pomp. With the second goal, that cup tie feel was lifted, and we suddenly looked good for the points.
It reminded me a lot of Sheffield Wednesday last season, when at 2-1, I thought a point was going to be a good outcome, but perhaps even more exaggerated. I think even the most optimistic of Imps fans would have said a draw would have been superb, but as House’s smart finish left the keeper flat-footed, the win became a reality. We weren’t going to be defending for our lives, like we did against Fleetwood, certainly not if we kept doing the right things.
We did keep doing the right things, but we also still defended for our lives late into the game. It was a bit like the Alamo towards the end, with bodies being thrown on the line, players blocking, fighting and contesting every ball. Anyone who had a shaky start to the game redeemed themselves, and Cambridge ten days ago felt like it was ten years ago. This is the Lincoln City we saw at Oxford, and to a degree away at Portsmouth. However, it was also an improvement on those games because we created chances; the xG stats were 1.92 to us, 0.95 to them; we didn’t just win the game, we deserved to win the game according to the numbers. Numbers don’t lie, no matter what people think.
Late on we saw Adam Jackson brought on as we went to a 5-4-1, a sensible decision and one fans were delighted to see. Not just for Jackson coming back (again), but also because it shows nous, a willingness to accept what we have and fight for it without leaving ourselves open. Fleetwood we lost a 2-0 lead, MK Dons last season we did the same, and I did chuckle as I saw their fans begin to leave on 85 minutes. I said to dad they obvious hadn’t seen us with a 2-0 lead at home; negative? Maybe, but I prefer to call it scarred.
There was no goal. Instead, the crowd lifted the roof as TJ demanded. It was an amusing moment, the usual genial TJ had the ball thrown at him by a Derby fan, and clearly they had an exchange. That fired him up, and he gestured to the Coop Stand (or whatever it is now, I forget) to lift the noise levels. It sounded as if we’d got a goal, such as the sudden burst of life. It felt utterly amazing, and if we’re being honest, probably only Sheff Weds last season compares since pre-lockdown. Even the stewards played their part in game management, one throw-in we got saw a steward go to throw the ball to our player, but then chuck it ten yards past him. Normally, that a sleight on the opponent, but it was game management of the highest order, even if the guy didn’t realise it.
Normally, I get out just before the final whistle, especially with a 15-minute walk to the car and a 45-minute drive home, but not last night. Every player in red and white left everything on the pitch, they fought for every ball, executed their game plan and deserved to be applauded. It meant I wasn’t home until 11 pm, and you’re not getting this until the next day, but respect where it is due; we did what was needed last night and it was a pleasure to be able to stand and applaud such a battling performance.
I’ve spoken of my Man of the Match, Sean Roughan, and obviously Diamond was outstanding, but nobody shamed themselves. I was especially happy for Paudie and TJ, both have been the subject of criticism and I thought both did well after shaky starts last night. I was delighted for Tashan as well; he looked the real deal last night and my hope is we’ll see more of that. He’s got such good technique, and the brain of a player who has played for his country and youth level. He’s got exquisite skills, and I think he’s finding a way to demonstrate those, but at the same time remain practical for League One football. If he finds the balance, he’s going to be a huge asset and remember, Lewis Fiorini didn’t click for us until around the same time last year.
I drove home utterly buzzing, watched the highlights five times before I went to bed and slept soundly. It’s such a contrast from ten days ago, such a different feeling and I guess it typifies what we’re about now. Nothing has fundamentally changed; we’re still short a striker, we’re still a work in progress, but at last, we have a Mark Kennedy home performance, and win, that gives us hope.
Never too high, never too low, right? Maybe I ought to take that advice, because ten days ago I thought we were in serious trouble, and today it feels like we have already secured our status for next season.
Football. I bloody love it (for now).
Disclaimer – The title, Battering the Rams, isn’t entirely accurate. We didn’t so much batter them as work harder and smarter, but Ben sent me his title suggestion on WhatsApp, and like pinning a five-year-old’s picture on the fridge, I feel obliged to use it.
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