After the break we were a bit more aggressive, and Wigan struggled to get into the game. They had one shot in the second period, Aasgaard’s header coming off the outside of the post. That was your lot from the visitors, although they always felt like they could be a constant danger. I just felt we repelled them well, and that’s credit to the defence. Paudie and Jacko were both excellent, and while Sean Roughan had a tough afternoon in terms of his deliveries, he was solid defensively. The same goes for the wing-backs – this game felt a lot like the 0-0 at their place last December, where one slip or a moment of lost concentration would cost either side.
It was also a big day for Zack Jeacock, and he came through the test with flying colours. I think he made one save, from the free kick, but was a decent presence in the area. I didn’t feel he had a mistake in him, and while his long kicks frustrated people around me, he was accurate almost every time. I don’t recall a single one of his balls forward going out of play for a throw, although many did evade everyone and go out for a goal kick, but that’s not a lack of accuracy.
In fact, the second half had absolutely nothing of note happen until 69 minutes had elapsed. That was the moment Jack Moylan entered the fray, and gave our attack a little shot in the arm. I think the intention had been for Tom Bayliss to offer the same threat that Aasgaard does for them, in the pockets in front of the defence. I suspect the more direct balls were looking to find a City head and give us possession in front of their back line rather than flick on and get in behind. That’s Bayliss territory, but he struggled to get on the ball for much of the game. I felt McGrandles had a similarly frustrating afternoon, and with 20 minutes left, Moylan and JJ McKiernan came on, shifting the balance toward us again.
We had four shots in the second half, and three came from Jack Moylan. They weren’t threatening in the typical sense, although Will Aimson blocked one in front of the keeper (EFL Fantasy points for me right there, I captained Aimson this weekend). However, Jack got on the ball and drove at the Latics, and while I can’t say they were frightened by it particularly, it did give them a different threat to deal with.
I did feel we’d be the ones who would score, if anyone was ever going to, and as we put it on them in those final 20 minutes there were a few moments. The best chances weren’t actual chances at all, but balls across the area that just didn’t fall right. It’s interesting to note we played five crosses into the box in the first half, but doubled that to ten in the second. There is evidence of us pushing for the goal, and it might not show it shots or xG, but we were definitely the more forwardly active side. Of those ten second half crosses, four came from Moylan and McKiernan, again underlining that the subs did have a positive impact on the game.
One player I did want to mention is Ethan Erhahon, obviously. One or two of his passes were exquisite, and everything we do positive seems to go through him. Often, the longer balls seemingly cut him out of the game, and I can see what we wanted to do, hit the channels, but it is challenging to watch when it is repelled by the opposition. That’s even more the case when you then see Ethan caress the ball through the eye of a needle to release Dom Jeffries (one pass that stood out for me). There is plenty of positivity in the Imps squad, and plenty of vision and creativity, but this is four matches on the spin where our actual xG has been below one. The key, for me, would be to see Ethan on the ball a little more, especially against the likes of Cambridge next weekend.
I also wanted to mention Freddie Draper, who didn’t play at all yesterday. I’m not the expert, Michael Skubala is, but this felt like a Freddie game to me, especially as the game wore on. I know Jovon can be a handful, but I felt if we were going to persist with a little more direct play, then Freddie’s aerial ability would have been a good option. I guess that’s the beauty of having a deep squad – there’s plenty for Michael to choose from, and given that I’ve already mentioned how Moylan (and to an extent McKiernan) changed the game, I guess the head coach does know best.
In the end, it was a point, a clean sheet and we hang in there, sixth in the table, matching the start we made to the 2023/24 season. To an extent, there are a few similarities between last season and this – we’re tough, resolute, are only a final ball away from winning more matches, and we look competitive against everyone we play. Injuries and a lack of flexibility derailed last season, and those are two things I don’t think are an issue this season. We have depth, and as the games against Mansfield and Burton showed, we do have goals in us. Last season, had we not dropped off as autumn’s chilly embrace wrapped it’s arms around us, we’d have finished top six.
So, my surprising conclusion from a match in which nothing really happened is that there’s evidence to suggest we could be challenging for a top-six spot as the season progresses. If you can’t win, don’t lose. I felt we tried very hard not to lose yesterday, in a game that became very difficult to win due to the quality of the organised and efficient opposition.
Remember, not all matches are a spectacle; football is a sport driven by points, and sometimes, those points aren’t pretty. They all count, and yesterday’s might not be memorable, but it is one more than we had before the game started. Win at Cambridge (he says, flippantly) and it’s four from a possible six. Take four from a possible six over the course of the season, and you’ll more than likely get into the play-offs. I’d take that.
Final page – full Bubs gallery
Can I also just point out an issue with the midday kick offs? It means somehow, I ended up in a bar serving absinthe colada (as bad as it sounds) on a two-for-one deal by four in the afternoon. I’m 45.