Cheltenham hamilton — Credit Graham Burrell

It’s time for our monthly piece once again, and as you know, we’re trying to make it nice and simple.

Each week, you rate the players after a game. With that in mind, we can produce a top three, a best performance, a worst performance, and a single standout performance. Last season, we included a lot of stats, but we’re watering them down a little and instead focusing on your ratings, with the odd stat thrown in for good measure.

In September, we played six fixtures, one in the League Cup, one in the EFL Trophy, and four in the league. We scored five goals, conceded seven, and amassed five points. We only won a single game, suffering three defeats.

Sa 02Sep 2023 Bristol R 1 – 1 Lincoln
Sa 16Sep 2023 Lincoln 1 – 1 Carlisle
Tu 19Sep 2023 Derby 2 – 0 Lincoln
Sa 23Sep 2023 Portsmouth 2 – 1 Lincoln
We 27Sep 2023 Lincoln 0 – 1 West Ham
Sa 30Sep 2023 Lincoln 2 – 0 Cheltenham

Who were our top performers?

2nd – Three Tied (7.38)

Despite the relatively poor record of three defeats, it’s surprising to find that there were a lot of good ratings. In fact, ten players all scored more than 7/10, which is remarkable. Three players couldn’t be separated at all; Lasse Sorensen, Sean Roughan, and last month’s winner, Ethan Erhahon.

Lasse bagged himself a brace and a Man of the Match in the 2-0 win against Cheltenham, whilst Ethan was just consistent, getting more than seven in all but one fixture. Sean Roughan is proving to be Mr Dependable – he was top three last month and again this month. Like Ethan, he didn’t get a Man of the Match but only scored below 7/10 away at Pompey.

1st – Ethan Hamilton (7.84)

I have a funny feeling we might have two Ethan’s fighting it out at the top of this chart every week. However, it is fair to say Ethan Hamilton has made quite an impact since his arrival. He bagged three Man of the Match ratings this month against Carlisle (7.7), Portsmouth (7.4) and West Ham (9.1). He got the only goal Imps goal in the 1-1 draw with Carlisle, but certainly did enough against West Ham to catch the eye.

Nobody can question Hamilton’s work ethic, his desire to get forward, or the value we’ve got for our money. However much we paid Accrington, it’s looking like it wasn’t enough, and there will be few teams in this division with a midfield pairing quite on the same level as ours.