“We Came Here and Dominated Possession” – Morecambe Boss Reacts To Imps’ Clash

November 21, 2022 Samuel Rowson Lincoln City 0

Credit Graham Burrell

Lincoln secured a valuable three points on Saturday with a 2-1 win over bottom four side Morecambe at Sincil Bank.

This result mirrored the home game from February last season, which was a valuable three points to stave off a relegation battle. The victory on Saturday does the same, but instead of relegation worries, it helps us to keep pace with the teams in the middle of the table and pushes us closer to that magic 50 points.

A lucky deflection from a Max Sanders freekick and a tap-in for House in the second half looked to seal the three points for the Imps. Morecambe finally got their rewards with what turned out to be just a consolation on 81 minutes when Jensen Weir crashed home their goal from outside the area, at a similar distance to Plymouth’s goal a week prior.

Lincoln held on for all three points and we first look at the viewpoint of the Morecambe manager Derek Adams and see how he felt the game panned out for his side, writes Samuel Rowson.

Derek Adams Reaction

The away manager spoke to the club’s media team shortly after the game’s conclusion and was upbeat, despite the result meaning Morecambe haven’t secured a league victory since the 22nd October at home to Barnsley. The result leaves the Lancashire side second bottom in the League One table and a full six points adrift of 20th place Cambridge United. He started by saying that his side deserved more from the game based on the possession his side enjoyed.

“To pass the ball the way we did, to create the openings we did, we shouldn’t be coming away from here with no points today,” he said. “To come away to Lincoln, they’ve a very good home record here, but we came here and dominated possession today, we created a number of very good opportunities, hit the post twice first half and second half.

Continuing on and speaking about the first Lincoln goal, Adams reiterated his admiration for the way his players continued to play and try to create more goalscoring opportunities-

“They get a first goal by a deflected shot off our side of the wall and in, but over the piece, I was delighted with the way we played. You can’t fault the players. The players were on it throughout the afternoon, they were trying to get that victory, they worked ever so hard, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t get that equaliser today.”

“I’ve been delighted the way we’ve been playing, the only two games are Cheltenham and Cambridge, the other games we’ve been well in, we’ve competed well in large spells in the games. I was speaking to a number of Lincoln’s people after the game and I think they were surprised at how well Morecambe did today, and the way we passed the ball and created openings.”

Credit Graham Burrell

Donald Love

The 27-year-old ex-Sunderland defender spoke to the club’s media team shortly after the game, in which he stated that the players will take confidence from the way they played and how they were disappointed not to take at least a point back with them to Lancashire.

“We’ll definitely take confidence from the way we played and then start picking up points hopefully,” he said. “We’ve hit the post twice and had some very good chances in the second half, to not even come away with a point is disappointing.”

“We’ve come away to Lincoln, they’ve got a good following here, I think we had the majority of the game after the first half-an-hour. We’ve got a good squad, a good group of lads,” he added.

“People are disappointed when you don’t play, but when we come in, we like to come in and prove a point. That’s the type of changing room we’ve got where everyone sticks together and even when you’re not playing, you still want the lads to go out and win.

“We’ve got a lot of lads in there who talk, everyone’s up for every game; that’s the way it is. Everyone should have their opinion, even if there’s an argument; nothing’s personal. We’ve just got to take it on the chin, and it’ll only improve us out on the pitch.”

Twitter/Fan Reaction

Lincoln take three points from a game for the first time since Barnsley away and for only the second time at home this season. It’s fair to say that everyone in red and white was pleased to see another home victory which pushes Lincoln City up to 9th in the league and only a few points off the last play-off spot. Nose bleed territory!

Sanders Deflected Free-Kick

In what makes it two goals in two games for the midfielder, there was a large slice of luck with how the goal was scored. Taking a deflection on the way through and wrong-footing the goalkeeper. 1-0 Imps.

However, other sources such as BBC and Sky Sports had the goal scorer as Walsh as he was closest to the ball when it deflected in.

What Could Have Been For Morecambe

Throughout the game, they struck the woodwork on multiple occasions. Most notably in the second half when Cole Stockton almost scored from 40 yards out. Thankfully the post was at Lincoln’s Aid. On another day, it could have easily been an afternoon that went the way of the away side. For once, squandered chances didn’t come back to bite The Imps.

House Made it 2-0

Lincoln rode their luck at times throughout the game, with Morecambe striking the posts on either side of the halftime break. The Imps then capitalised in the second period. A great passage of play ended with Oakley-Boothe shooting from close range, the goalkeeper saved the initial shot; however, the ball fell into House’s path for a tap-in.