One goal against Bolton gave us something to cling to, but we didn’t do that, we kept pushing. There was a vibrancy about us, a real purpose and intent. I know critics will say ‘where has it been all season’ but it’s been there, lurking under a shape that with hindsight didn’t always suit us, sometimes stifled by deep opposition, but it’s been there. One thing that brings it out is the imminent threat of a striker who scores goals, and we have that now.
Last season, Joe Taylor was a threat, and that helped us in those final weeks. He might be older and more experienced, but there’s no doubt in my mind James Collins is a bigger asset to the playing squad, right now, than Joe Taylor was last season. After Ben House worked their keeper, it was Collins who added a second. Their big 56, Dave Abimbola, I thought was lucky in the Ring goal as he hauled down House as the ball went in, but there was no such luck as he caught Erhahon, lining up another blast from inside the area. City spot kick, and despite the strong travelling support doing their best to put Collins off, he smashed the ball home. For people of a certain age, it was a Julian Dicks penalty, a Stuart Pearce 1996. Just put your foot through it and see what happens.
It went in.
At 2-0, you think it should be game, set and match. That was certainly the feeling at Charlton, but they were always going to have a spell, and so were Bolton. However, Bolton’s spell wasn’t so much relentless pressure, as two sucker punches. I’m not dissing their quality, by the way, they got back into the game well with two decent goals. The first, from Matete, was outstanding. Take away the fact it’s against us and watch it back – a lovely team move started and finished by former Sunderland man. I know we’ll say ‘should have closed him down’ or something, but this wasn’t a goal like those against Barnsley. This was one they scored, rather than one we gifted.
The second one is controversial. I didn’t see it at the time, comfort break, but watching it back in slow motion, it’s handball. They do well down the right, Dacres-Cogley, a player we were linked with once, whips a cracking ball in, and on-loan Newcastle man Alex Murphy nods it in. However, having watched back, Wickens has his header covered, but it catches the hand of Abimbola and takes it beyond our keeper. The assistant referee is the other side of the field, so doesn’t see it. The referee, who I thought had a good game, didn’t see it. Only Wickens saw it, and he can’t give it.
It does strengthen my argument for four assistant referees, but it’s not an argument anyone is really listening to.
That was seven minutes before half time, and it woke the away support up. To have 10,200 in the ground on a wet, miserable day was a real treat, and it was nice to hear them singing for seven minutes or so. They’d been silenced early doors, but they came to life and lifted the atmosphere. We almost replied straight away – a free kick from Reeco was delivered perfectly, only for House to head wide. House had a really good game, working tirelessly, but that goal just won’t come. However, that wasn’t the main talking point from the free kick – Nathan Baxter took up a real odd position at the back post, leaving a huge gap at the front. Someone on the Imps coaching team, you’d imagine Scott Fry, paid close attention to that.
I felt we responded well after losing two goals. It’s a real test of character to have to go again after getting that advantage at home, but this time, I didn’t feel there were errors for the goals. This time, as with Charlton, we were up against a good team, capable of hurting you at any moment, and we stood our ground until half time (half time, 1830 word in, ffs). After that, we expected two types of deluge – more water from above, and more shots from Bolton.