Wycombe are a team we’ve beaten once since our Football League return, and that was in March. They’re a team who are almost always hard to beat, peppered with a mix of exciting youth (Potts and Taylor) and old hands (Keogh, Scowen, Vokes). Vincent-Young and Grimmer are good players at this level, and I really expected more. I expected them to be a threat in the second half and be tougher to beat. At half-time, Chris and I exchanged messages, and the train of thought was the same – if they score, it finishes 1-0. If we score, it could be two or three. The big question was, who would score first?
It became quickly evident only one team were likely to do that. Us. As I sit here now trying to assess the game, I don’t recall a single shot they had on target in the second period. I remember ours; Mandroiu testing their keeper from range. I see that they did have an effort on 50 minutes, which was a half-chance, but in truth, they never looked like scoring. Without the wind, they looked to me to be a team short of attacking ideas. It’s amusing because I feel that’s as much down to how we defend against them as their own inadequacies, and it reminded me of when we played the likes of Shrewsbury a few years ago, in matches where the two teams cancelled each other out. We cancelled them out; could they do the same to us?
They brought on McCleary and Killian Phillips on 57 minutes, changes that were meant to switch the game in their favour. We brought on Bishop, Burroughs and Walker a few minutes later, intending for the same effect. Last season, we didn’t have the depth to make such sweeping changes, and there’s no doubt they were the catalyst for a shift in gear. That’s no criticism of Hamilton, House or Brown, who were withdrawn. All did very well for 65 minutes.
Three minutes later, City took the lead, and whilst we can talk about the subs, the goal was created and scored by two players who had been on the pitch for the whole game. Danny Mandroiu recycled a cross from the right, whipping in a return ball from the left, and Reeco Hackett popped up with an empty net to poke home. It was no less than we deserved at that stage, but credit for the attacking intent. Mandroiu’s ball was delivered quickly, giving Wycombe no time to regroup from the initial cross from the right. It’s the sort of strategy that saw them have 20-odd shots on goals back in February 2022 when we played them.
That eased the pressure on City, and there was only ever going to be one winner from that point. However, our adaptability was evident when Lasse had to go off moments later. Hackett had to go at left wing-back, Burroughs across to the right, and Bishop into an attacking wide position, and potentially, it could have caused an imbalance in the approach. Instead, within minutes, we made it 2-0. I really liked this goal – Sean Roughan’s long ball into the channels found Mandroiu in space. It wasn’t a lump-it-up-top long ball, it was a directed, swift counter-attacking ball. The Irish wizard brought it down and delivered a pinpoint cross for Ted Bishop sweeping in. If Ted hadn’t finished it, Tyler Walker would have.
Now, a word on Ted. I’ve been guilty of writing him off a bit this season. When we made the changes, I wondered why it wasn’t Ali Smith coming on. Ted’s been injured, struggled for game time, and yet here he was, coming on with the game poised at 0-0. It was his cross that Mandroiu recycled for the first (a second assist, stats fans), and he weighed in with a good finish moments later. All the hype this season has been around the rest of the squad, new signings and the like, but the first home game of the season has Super Ted back with a bang. What a time to send a message. What a way to do it.
City were flying now. Walker flicked on Hackett’s long ball, freeing Ted once again. He fired into the keeper’s feet, but Kennedy’s Imps were making good on the gaffer’s promise from 12 months ago. It was free-flowing, attacking football, football with purpose and intent. I felt Keogh, a veteran defender, was troubled by the shift in pace up top, and they were a spent force going forward. They needed to chase the game but didn’t have the legs to get at us. We remained athletic at the back, TJ and Roughan superbly hanging off either side of O’Connor. Erhahon was always on hand to mop up in front of the back three, and his hard work will, once again, likely not be lauded as much as those around him. It’s easy to be excited when you’re 2-0 up, and for the players, it’s easier to try things when your opponents need to chase a game without having the tools to do so.
The third goal was perhaps the pick of the bunch. Another ball out of defence from the Imps, this time by Paudie, was touched on by Walker to Bishop. With Walker dragging a defender one way, Bishop found Mandroiu, and with Walker in acres of space, the Irishman fired home from range. I highlight Walker’s involvement in the goal because he looked hungry for that first of his permanent spell here, and despite not getting it, he was instrumental in our positive attacking play. He had one ruled out for offside as well, another moment teed up by Mandroiu.
Mandroiu. How many times have I written that name here? On 80 minutes, Matt and I debated Man of the Match and suggested it was between Hackett and Mandroiu, with the latter edging it ‘but not having the goal to cap it off’. Even without the goal, he deserved the plaudits, and when he was withdrawn on 88 minutes, he got a standing ovation from everyone around me. Certain footballers capture my imagination. Jorge Grant, Peter Gain and David Puttnam. Danny Mandroiu is looking like all of them, and if teams do notice him and want to bid, then it’s a massive acknowledgement of how good our recruitment is.
Mind you, Dylan Duffy’s cameo was interesting as well. I really like the lad, direct, a little raw, but someone who doesn’t look overawed one little bit.
I dipped out of the game a minute early – we had a family BBQ afterwards, and time was getting on courtesy of the new rules, but I bounced all the way back up Sincil Bank. Winning football matches is nice – winning at home when the sun is shining and the season is fresh and vibrant is really nice. There’s a long way to go, but the signs are so positive. Okay, Wycombe looked average, but that was as much about what we did as what they didn’t do. We had the odd scary moment early doors, but the way we regrouped, stayed focused and worked hard was promising. I know people will go on about the goals and chances, and rightly so because that is what wins games, but what stood out for me was the hard work, especially when we had our backs against the walls.
The other thing that stood out for me was individual talent. Teams that are together do well. Teams that are set up right do well. Teams who can counteract the opposition do well. Teams that can do those things but also have special players, who can produce a trick to get out of trouble and conjure up magic to score a goal, they’re really successful. On yesterday’s showing, we have not just one or two, but perhaps four or five players who can do that. Erhahon created space in midfield, Mandroiu created and scored, Hackett beat a man and had a trick or three, and Jaden Brown created and delivered a few good balls when we were fighting for a foothold in the game. They’re not the only ones, but mix them with grafters like Hamilton, Sorensen and House, and we have the right recipe for success.
There are 44 games to go. If we play like we did yesterday in 75% of those matches, Lincoln City might surprise a few people this season.