
Another positive performance for a defensively resolute Lincoln who pushed title challengers Wednesday in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at The LNER Stadium.
A game of two halves saw Wednesday dominate possession without adding to their goal tally in the first half. And an explosive start to the second, which saw Lincoln defend and limit the Yorkshire side to very few attempts on goal. This means Lincoln have accrued four points against two top three sides in a week. This adds to a very positive month for the Imps so far in League action, writes Samuel Rowson.
Darren Moore’s View

The Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore spoke to The Star shortly after the game. After a disappointing performance from his side, leaving The Owls three points behind 2nd place Ipswich and 5 points adrift of early table toppers in Plymouth. He went on to state that his players were wasteful in front of the goal and it was 2 points dropped in his eyes.
“I told the boys at half-time we should have been out of sight but we weren’t, but there are two things that cost us today; a momentary lapse of concentration – we had so much possession and that cost us. That and wasteful finishing.”
Wednesday had a host of opportunities to win the game with last ditch challenges and goal mouth clearances stopping them from scoring. But ultimately with 17 shots and only 3 on target the draw was put down to a lack of finesse in front of goal.
“The boys know that was wasteful finishing. With the chances we had they know they’ve got to put it in the back of the net. I’m pleased that we created chances to score goals and I always believe we have the players to put the ball in the back of the net, but today was wasteful finishing”.
Moore was then asked about the Lincoln performance and the subsequent equaliser which was scored through Danny Mandriou on 47 minutes.
“It was pure lack of concentration, It was a mundane goal. There was nothing intricate about it, it was just a lapse in concentration. The ball looked like it went in in slow motion, it was so slow and when I look back on it, it was poor in terms of concentration.
“No matter how much you dominate a game, a team will have a moment and they’ve taken it today. They’re dogged and credit to them, but in terms of the chances we had, we should have won the game today. That’s what it so frustrating.”
Twitter/ Player Reaction

A couple of the Wednesday players took to social media after the game to vent their frustration after the 1-1 draw at Lincoln. Many of the players taking some part of the blame, and all having the overriding feeling that it was 2 points dropped and that they should have comfortably won the game in Lincolnshire.
Josh Windass
Wednesday midfielder Windass commented on the wasted chances that he feels should have been taken, in a game which left Owls fans and players feeling frustrated. Windass felt they should have gone back to South Yorkshire with all three points with a comfortable away win, shouldering some of the blame in the process.
Can’t perform like that and not finish our chances, we had enough to win 3 games!! good performance from us until the final touch..should be scoring those and that’s on me!! Great support as ever!! 🦉
— Joshua Windass (@WindassJnr) October 22, 2022
Barry Bannan
The experienced Scottish midfielder also took to Twitter to own up to his missed chance in the second half in which he missed from 6 yards out and could have sealed the victory had he taken the opportunity.
Frustrating day not the 3 points we wanted I should have made it 2-1 but we move on and get ready for Wednesday ⚽️ Thanks for your support always amazing 🦉
— Barry Bannan (@bazzabannan25) October 22, 2022
Mark McGuinness
The on-loan defender from Championship side Cardiff spoke to the club’s media team after the game to discuss his thoughts on the early kick off in Lincolnshire. Firstly speaking on the team’s overall performance at the LNER Stadium,
“Very frustrating, I think when we dominate games especially in the first half like that. We get the goal which is brilliant but we should have scored more and put the game to bed early doors… if we take those early chances and take more goals and its a completely different game”
Mark had this to say regarding the Lincoln goal, which was scored early in the second half,
“It was a lapse of concentration from everyone really, they only had one or two chances in the whole game but look they [Lincoln] took it, but fair play to them but for us it’s really disappointing.”
Twitter/ Fan Reaction
It ends level at the LNER Stadium – thank you for your support this afternoon, Imps!
We'll see you again in Barnsley on Tuesday evening.
⏱FT | 🔴 1-1 🦉 | #LINWED pic.twitter.com/W44HC39so7
— Lincoln City FC 🇺🇦 (@LincolnCity_FC) October 22, 2022
Rushworth Mistake, Owls Capitalise
Unfortunately, the Wednesday goal came from a mistake from our number one. Looking back at the clip Rushworth plays it from left to right in an attempt to get the ball to O’Connor on the right side of the defense. And Lee Gregory does really well to intercept the ball, keep his composure and slot the home for a gifted first goal of the afternoon.
Error from the goalkeeper who cleared the ball straight to Gregory and our number nine took full advantage!
🔴0-1🦉#LINSHW
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) October 22, 2022
Afternoon Of Missed Chances
In what was a game that really could have been over as a contest by the half time. As I said to my Dad and those around me that with it still at 1-0 there is always a chance we could grab and equaliser and get back into the game. And at the half time interval, Wednesday fans were hoping that the missed opportunities wouldn’t come back to bite them.
Good first half display but hoping we finish them off 2nd half don’t want to regret missing them chances
— Jake Matthewson (@Matthewson_j96) October 22, 2022
Brilliant performance but need to score at least 1 more, I hope we don't regret missing these chances
— Alex (@BonningtonAlex) October 22, 2022
Tika Taka Lincoln Score Early
From my seat in CL5 the one-touch football between Eyoma, House and Virtue was sublime, it opened up some space for House to exploit. He then subsequently played a lovely weighted through ball for Mandroiu to run on to, to score his first league goal for the Imps and his second in two games after scoring against Newcastle U21’s on Tuesday night. However, from a Wednesday point of view it was a poor goal to concede.
Poor goalkeeping and awful from the two centre halves
— 𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙡 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠 (@NeilParkLIVE) October 22, 2022
What on earth was centre half's doing & then goalkeeper decided to have a slow dive 🤦♂️
— Neil (@Neil78266547) October 22, 2022
Wednesday Fans- Worrying Signs
Up until Saturday’s game, Wednesday had won 4 out of the last 5 league games fully cementing their place as promotion challengers. With wins against Wycombe, Port Vale, Cheltenham and Cambridge. The only slip-up was away to league leaders Plymouth. And with a wasteful performance against Lincoln some fans are worried about their teams chances at the tail end of the season should they not secure automatic promotion.
This team will never get automatic promotion under Moore. We’ll make the playoffs but just like last season fall at that hurdle. Moore simply doesn’t possess enough tactical ability to navigate two playoff semis and a final .
— BiffBosh (@BiffBosh) October 22, 2022
However, one performance doesn’t define a season, but fans were still unhappy with the performance.
Not ruthless enough for top 2. So poor in front of goal.
Defenders can't grab a goal, Smith, Gregory and Windass miss so many chances.
Very poor.
— OwlsFan21 (@OwlsFan21) October 22, 2022
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