Maybe we got a bit too relaxed and confident in ourselves... It certainly looked like we were playing a Pre-Season Friendly at times out there today, rather than taking a grip and control of the game like we normally do - Bit too much self-belief maybe.
Very odd first half formation, leaving masses of space on the left, and clogging up the middle. And without the magic of TC, resorting to lumping it into the box without a target man to hit.
We did have other options, Dixon or Gilbert could have started there, or we could have played Watson on the right and moved Small to left wing.
Defensively we weren't great either. For McIntyre to be replaced with a straight swap showed his struggles, but the rusty Mitchell was hardly much better.
Chuks didn't do they much, but his presence creates opportunities for others. Two good finishes for our goals, Gillesphey showed a lot of composure with his finish.
Awful ref, who clearly has read a different version of the added time rules to everyone else.
Good to come back from 2-0. Could have won it at the end. Ultimately 2 points dropped.
Anderson as replacement for Tyreece Campbell did not work. He is good for energy in midfield. It was never going to work. Small had some great runs but was lacking an end product at the end. The team looked blunted and really missed Tyreece Campbell as an outlet.
Important for the play off that TC is protected but shows that the squad lacks depth.
Lincoln got a decent header to go in front. Some terrible defending start of 2nd showed how much stability Jones gives the team. Nathan Jones mixed it up with some decent subs. Great goal Gillesphy to turn the match and equaliser from Doherty.
Lincoln decided at 2-0 to time waste, from 60 mins onwards, and throughout conned the abysmal referee for free kicks at every available opportunity. They had a lack of ambition and their play was miserable and scrappy. They were nearly punished for it. Godden and Aneke going close at the end.
How the referee gave only 5 mins was a total joke.
Word on Dixon, he did well and kept it simple and tried to do these things well. Looks promising for the future.
Maybe he could have started TC but decided to give him a rest. I think it was a bit hard on Anderson playing him in TCs postion. Maybe we should have signed some wide cover in January.
After 60 mins I wished I'd gone to Blackheath fair after all. First half we were toothless but what do you expect when you start with no real attacking threat. Missed their 2nd goal due to all the fans re-taking their seats 5 mins after re half had started.
Now for the positives. Never thought we'd come back from 2 nil down so big credit to the lads. Chuks unlucky and one day one will go in. Lets just hope it's at Wembley.
Anderson as replacement for Tyreece Campbell does not work. He is good for energy in midfield. It was never going to work. Small had some good runs but was lacking an end product at the end of great runs. The team looked blunted and really missed Tyreece Campbell as an outlet.
Port Vale got a decent header to go in front. Some terrible defending start of 2nd showed how much stability Jones gives the team. Nathan Jones mixed it up with some decent subs. Great goal Gillesphy to turn the match and equaliser from Doherty.
Lincoln decided at 2-0 to time waste, from 60 mins onwards, and throughout conned the abysmal referee for free kicks at every available opportunity. They had a lack of ambition and their play was miserable and scrappy. They were nearly punished for it. Godden and Aneke going close at the end.
Good to come back from 2-0. Could have won it at the end. Ultimately 2 points dropped.
I missed all the pre-match action, turned up at five to three so didn't know about Campbell, but when I saw Anderson starting on the wing I said to my brother it was the wrong decision. We were poor today against a limited Lincoln. Such a shame to lose touch with the top 2 over this fixture.
Frustrating game, first half with Anderson on the left we were restricted to only attacking down their right. I think the impact of that was twofold. One, we weren't as potent going forwards. Two, because we couldn't keep the pressure up going forwards we had to soak up more pressure in defence, which, without Lloyd Jones, we failed to do and conceded.
It has demonstrated both our reliance on width and lack of cover in that area.
That being said, still great spirit from the team to come back and still could've nicked it.
We are always rubbish against Lincoln and Jones has now failed to beat them in his three attempts so far. They can't beat us either though so we probably could have just saved some energy and called it a draw yesterday. Replacing Campbell with Anderson was insane, genuinely bonkers and we've paid for it. Gilbert would have been more logical, could have traded pace for guile but I increasingly get the feeling Jones isn't a fan. We could have put Ahadme up there with Godden and pushed Small and Edwards high, we could have started Dixon, we could have changed the shape and put two 10s behind Godden but instead we tried to replicate what we normally do but with a central midfielder. That aside though, we went 2-0 down. reacted and could even have won it so there's a lot to say for this side's character. If we fall behind in a Playoff game or between legs you can trust that the team will react and work til the final whistle. Now we've got to go away to an improving Cambridge side and win and then beat Northampton at home before the big away games against 2nd and 3rd. We just need to secure our place in the Playoffs and anything else is a bonus at this point
Thought Dixon did ok today. Just tries to do the simple stuff rather than anything flash
When Dixon put in that cross from the right near the end Steve Brown talked about expecting him to drive at them. Having watched Dixon on the u21s he’s not a dribbler to the extent TC and Small are, though he’ll try something different as shown by his goals for the u21s, and I’m sure we’ll see that come through if he gets more chances in the first team.
That January window looks a dud to me more and more. The players that left I don't have a problem with but our squad is very small and McIntyre doesn't look up to it with Gilbert seemingly unfancied.
We have had terrific form since but it was always going to be an issue when we picked up a few injuries.
Today we did well to get back from 2 down but I felt Lincoln were there for the taking and it was 2 points dropped. Their keeper looked a player and would have been a good one to have bought in last summer.
Chuks just can't buy a goal atm but looked useful, the refs all seem to penalise him for being big which doesn't help.
Don't think Dixon knew what he was supposed to be doing. Seemed to float in and then get lost hanging around.
Berry didnt have much of a game, would have liked to see gilbert earlier.
The main issue though was we all looked at the team sheet and knew Anderson in a TC role wasn't going to work. So should Nathan Jones, credit to him for fixing it but he broke it first. There was no out ball down the left so Lincoln could focus on defending the right. Wasnt helped by their press breaking down coventry's normal fluent passing and anderson drifting into central positions back ti goal where he got easily dispossessed. He is at his best driving forwards and disrupting not as a playmaker or beating a man with a dribble or a brilliant pass.
Anderson as replacement for Tyreece Campbell does not work. He is good for energy in midfield. It was never going to work. Small had some good runs but was lacking an end product at the end of great runs. The team looked blunted and really missed Tyreece Campbell as an outlet.
Port Vale got a decent header to go in front. Some terrible defending start of 2nd showed how much stability Jones gives the team. Nathan Jones mixed it up with some decent subs. Great goal Gillesphy to turn the match and equaliser from Doherty.
Lincoln decided at 2-0 to time waste, from 60 mins onwards, and throughout conned the abysmal referee for free kicks at every available opportunity. They had a lack of ambition and their play was miserable and scrappy. They were nearly punished for it. Godden and Aneke going close at the end.
Good to come back from 2-0. Could have won it at the end. Ultimately 2 points dropped.
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Thanks @Briston_Addick 2nd Half - Lincoln as bad as Port Vale.
After being two goals down, I'm just mighty relieved we didn't lose. Hopefully both Jones and Campbell will be back for the next game, and the team back to business as usual.
It was a good point in the end but their keeper was outstanding and won them the point …… mistake picking Anderson think it was a safe option but Jones got it wrong badly .
Gilly again MOM and with McIntyre done well to cope with the high ball tactics that Lincoln played don’t think I have the ball in the air so much but we could not take control of the game if the ball in the air .. tactics almost worked but were a different team now and we don’t know when we’re beaten ….
Their keeper, Wickens, only 23 and joined them last summer on a four year deal from Fulham. Looked very assured and made two tremendous saves second half to keep them in it. One to keep an eye on for sure.
Their keeper, Wickens, only 23 and joined them last summer on a four year deal from Fulham. Looked very assured and made two tremendous saves second half to keep them in it. One to keep an eye on for sure.
A 4 year deal is a big commitment to a rookie keeper, but one which looks a shrewd bit of business.
Comments
Should have been at least 10 minutes injury time given all the timewasting, injuries and substitutions.
We did have other options, Dixon or Gilbert could have started there, or we could have played Watson on the right and moved Small to left wing.
Defensively we weren't great either. For McIntyre to be replaced with a straight swap showed his struggles, but the rusty Mitchell was hardly much better.
Chuks didn't do they much, but his presence creates opportunities for others. Two good finishes for our goals, Gillesphey showed a lot of composure with his finish.
Awful ref, who clearly has read a different version of the added time rules to everyone else.
ridiculous decision from Jones to start Anderson
After 60 mins I wished I'd gone to Blackheath fair after all. First half we were toothless but what do you expect when you start with no real attacking threat. Missed their 2nd goal due to all the fans re-taking their seats 5 mins after re half had started.
Now for the positives. Never thought we'd come back from 2 nil down so big credit to the lads. Chuks unlucky and one day one will go in. Lets just hope it's at Wembley.
More later.
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It has demonstrated both our reliance on width and lack of cover in that area.
That being said, still great spirit from the team to come back and still could've nicked it.
But if you can't then don't lose them.
Poor performance that sits with NJ.
His formation at the start was all wrong and we were all over the place.
Illustrates how important L Jones, TC and Coventry are.
The first two were out and the third had his worse game for a while.
But we dug in and got a point.
Automatics have gone but the battle for the play-offs and home advantage in the second leg is very much on.
We have had terrific form since but it was always going to be an issue when we picked up a few injuries.
Today we did well to get back from 2 down but I felt Lincoln were there for the taking and it was 2 points dropped. Their keeper looked a player and would have been a good one to have bought in last summer.
The main issue though was we all looked at the team sheet and knew Anderson in a TC role wasn't going to work. So should Nathan Jones, credit to him for fixing it but he broke it first. There was no out ball down the left so Lincoln could focus on defending the right. Wasnt helped by their press breaking down coventry's normal fluent passing and anderson drifting into central positions back ti goal where he got easily dispossessed. He is at his best driving forwards and disrupting not as a playmaker or beating a man with a dribble or a brilliant pass.
Thanks @Briston_Addick 2nd Half - Lincoln as bad as Port Vale.