Competitively, Lincoln have only played Chelsea on eight occasions, and the last time was while the Titanic was still seaworthy.
Back in the 1910/11 season, we drew 0-0 at the Bank, but were soundly hammered 7-0 at Stamford Bridge. In fact, we’ve only beaten the Blues once, in 1907.
However, the name Chelsea has passed our lips on several occasions. There’s a friendly, and there is the small matter of the EFL Trophy. Sure, it was their Under 21s, and we’re often loath to confuse the academy kids and the first team, but it was a huge night for us.
Lincoln City EFL Trophy 2017/18 Run
We opened the campaign with a 3–1 group win at Mansfield Town on 29th August 2017. Alfie Potter put the hosts ahead on six minutes, but Elliott Whitehouse levelled five minutes before the break. In the second half, the Imps turned it around through Ollie Palmer on 79 minutes, before Matt Green sealed the points in the 90th minute.
Sincil Bank hosted Everton Under-21s on 24th October and City made a fast start. Jordan Maguire-Drew scored after three minutes and added a second on 23 to establish a two-goal lead by half time, and make his only real contribution in a Lincoln shirt. Everton replied late through Dennis Adeniran on 81 minutes, but City saw it out for a 2–1 win.
A third straight victory followed at home to Notts County on 7th November. The visitors led on 27 minutes via Jonathan Forte, yet City were level when a Pierce Bird own goal made it 1–1 on 37 minutes. Josh Ginnelly struck the winner on 86 minutes to secure another 2–1 success. The Imps topped the group, and the reward was a visit from League Two’s top side, Accrington Stanley.
City won that 3–2 at Sincil Bank on 5th December. Mallik Wilks put Stanley ahead on seven minutes and an own goal credited to Paul Farman on 42 made it 2–2 at the interval after Palmer (37) and Green (45) had scored for City. Sean Raggett headed the decisive goal on 61 minutes.
The quarter-final at Rochdale in early January was settled late. After a tight game at Spotland, Palmer struck again on 88 minutes to clinch a 1–0 away win and send Lincoln into the last four. In that game, Billy Knott came on for us, Jordan Williams for Rochdale, and the two swapped clubs (on loan) days later.
Lincoln then faced Peterborough United at Sincil Bank on 23rd January and won 4–2. An early own goal off Neal Eardley put Posh in front on 14 minutes, but Danny Rowe equalised on 43 to reach half time at 1–1. Danny Lloyd gave the visitors a 2–1 lead on 50 minutes, only for Matt Rhead to level on 55. Late goals from Green and Harry Anderson, both in the 90th minute, completed a fine comeback and booked a semi-final place.
Chelsea Under 21s Run
Chelsea’s Under-21 side entered the 2017/18 EFL Trophy with a young group that featured future first-team players. Their campaign began away at Plymouth Argyle in August. After a goalless first half at Home Park, Callum Hudson-Odoi struck twice in the 62nd and 74th minutes to give Chelsea control. However, Alex Fletcher replied with goals in the 88th and 90th minutes to force a 2-2 draw, and Plymouth went on to win 5-4 on penalties. Nathan Blissett, a former Imp, made a cameo for the home side.
The second group stage match came at Yeovil in October. Rhys Browne put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute, only for Luke McCormick to level twelve minutes later. Neither side could find a winner and, once again, Chelsea were beaten in a shootout, this time 5-3.
Progression depended on the final group fixture at Exeter in November, and Chelsea delivered. Although Reuben Reid gave Exeter a seventh-minute lead, Hudson-Odoi equalised on 29 minutes. After the break, Reece James put Chelsea ahead with a strike in the 68th minute, and Josh Grant added a third to seal a 3-1 victory that sent them through.
In the knockout stages, the youngsters impressed. Against MK Dons in December, senior striker Michy Batshuayi led the way with goals in the 22nd and 42nd minutes, before Hudson-Odoi and Charly Musonda added further strikes in a 4-0 win at Stadium MK. Conor McGrandles played, was booked, and got taken off in that game, while Joe Walsh played 90 minutes.
January brought a trip to Fratton Park, where Musonda scored twice, in the 58th and 90th minutes, to earn a 2-1 victory despite a stoppage-time reply from Brett Pitman.
The quarter-finals paired Chelsea with Oxford United at Stamford Bridge. Harvey St Clair and Daishawn Redan struck early to put the hosts in command, and Juan Familia-Castillo added a third in the second half to complete a 3-0 triumph.
That set up the Sincil Bank clash.
Imps v Chelsea Under 21s
Danny Cowley’s side were the busier team across the ninety minutes, forced to ride a brief wobble after Chelsea’s equaliser but finishing the stronger before sealing it 4-2 on penalties.
The pattern was set early. The Imps pressed high and targeted Chelsea’s defensive third, forcing errors and pinning the visitors back with a steady stream of deliveries from Sam Habergham and Neal Eardley.
From one first-half corner, Elliott Whitehouse saw an effort blocked before Matt Rhead’s follow-up was hooked off the line by Trevoh Chalobah, confirmation that the pressure was being applied in the right areas. When the ball was worked wide again, Rhead’s header back across goal asked another question, only for Ethan Ampadu to read the danger and deny Matt Green.
Cowley’s instruction to keep the tempo up was clear. Lincoln hunted in packs, closed goalkeeper Marcin Bulka quickly and made the game uncomfortable for Chelsea’s youngsters. Harry Anderson was a constant outlet on the right and drew Chalobah’s booking as the Imps continued to turn the visitors.
At the back, Michael Bostwick and Luke Waterfall handled anything direct and stepped in at key moments when Chelsea tried to spring forward. Bostwick took no prisoners, and was the epitome of ‘man against boy’ as he snarled he way through the encounter.
The breakthrough finally arrived with 18 minutes to play. Eardley delivered another accurate cross from the right and Waterfall rose to plant a downward header beyond Bulka for 1-0. It felt like a winning moment, only for Chelsea to strike back six minutes later when Daishawn Redan finished from close range to level.
The final stages belonged largely to Lincoln, who pushed again for a winner. Anderson came closest, glancing a header narrowly wide after Bostwick’s pass as the hosts kept the initiative to the last.
Penalties brought a jolt when Habergham’s opening kick crashed against the bar and was ruled not to have crossed the line (which it did). With debutant Ryan Allsop focused and the majority of the 9,444 crowd behind them, the Imps took control of the shootout as Ampadu and Jacob Maddox both missed for Chelsea.
On as a stoppage-time substitute, Lee Frecklington carried the final responsibility. A product of the club’s youth system and back in red and white, he stepped up and drove home the decisive spot-kick to clinch a 4-2 shootout win and spark jubilant scenes.
Let’s hope we can see the same again on Tuesday night!