Worst Performance – Carlisle Utd (H) 6.36

No strikers (for the first time), no Danny Mandroiu, and the emergence of Hakeeb Adelakun (again) as a Lincoln City player. We lost three games in September, but you still rated the 1-1 draw with Carlisle as the worst outing of the month.

I think that’s a good thing. It shows that even in defeat, we’re not doing badly, and perhaps this score is a reflection of the opposition level, considering the three games we lost, Pompey, Derby, and West Ham, were all against sides that can be considered bigger than we are.

Best Performance – West Ham (8.43)

It wasn’t just the best performance of the month; I suspect if I were to go back over every performance that has been put in since the ratings began, it would be the best. It was a game where we suspended our disbelief for a moment and dared to wonder if we might beat the illustrious visitors.

In the end, it was not to be, but nobody went home from the game disappointed with the effort of our players. We could have snatched a goal on a couple of occasions and had a split-second of joy when Alex Mitchell bundled the ball over the line.

Best Individual Performance – Ethan Hamilton (West Ham) – 9.1

Last month’s best individual display was Lukas Jensen, saving penalties against Sheffield United. Once again, the League Cup gives us our top performer, with Ethan Hamilton’s performance against West Ham drawing the plaudits from you. On a night where the lowest rating was 7.7 and where ten players scored greater than 8/10, Hamilton was the star performer.

It was well earned. He won 67% of his duels against the Premier League side, had four of our ten shots, and made 86% passing accuracy. He had a 60% dribble success, and the things stats can’t cover (or Wyscout doesn’t cover), such as distance run, he seemed to excel in as well.

When we sang ‘We’ve got Ethan in the middle’ at Sheffield United, I assumed it was Erhahon we were referencing. Now? Who knows, they’re both bloody superb.