It’s probably fair to say yesterday’s game was a bit of a non-event before kick-off.
Easter weekend has held so many delights for Lincoln fans, but this Easter, things are different. We’re already looking ahead to next season, peeling back the foil on the Easter eggs with nothing more than the rise or demise of other teams to look forward to.
Come on, which Lincoln fans don’t secretly hope Boston make their great escape? Who didn’t smile when the Cods went down 4-0 at home, spoiling their play-off ambitions? We’re loving Huddersfield collapsing, and there’s a few jubilant that Leeds are nudging towards the Premier League again.
That was much of the focus yesterday, before the game. Whether we win, draw or lose, it was largely irrelevant. Nobody would have their mind changed about The Imps yesterday, whatever the result. Lose, and it confirms the doom and gloomers are right, we need a clear out etc. Win, and those annoying podcasters can be smug on their show, stifling real opinion with the glib chatter. Draw, and both parties would claim victory, like some sort of desperate hung parliament where nobody is the real winner.
Luckily, we did have a winner. Cue smug podcasters (Stacey West team, that’s our bus…).
Of course, the team dropped at 2:00 pm and the usual comments came out. Where’s Sam Clucas (valid point, but I won’t go there again)? Why is Collins dropped (he’s not, we play Monday, it’s the same system that we’ve employed since he signed, but if you’re not paying attention, that’s not my fault)? Then it’s discussions around Ring, Hackett, Hamilton, McGrandles, the same debates, the same opinions, pros and cons. It’s so routine now that, aside perhaps from the Clucas situation, I genuinely believe some just copy and paste their comments each week.
I’m a fan of Freddie Draper, although he hasn’t stood out like some this campaign (cough, Makama, cough). Giving him game time is massively important, and I can see the benefit of resting Collins. I’m sure this isn’t the case, but if we want to sell season tickets in the next window, where is it best to put in a complete performance? Against Bolton on Monday in front of an almost sold-out Sincil Bank, or away at Reading when most of Monday’s crowd are on a beach, in a pub, or sitting in their garden burning burgers on a BBQ? That’s a conspiracy theory that has some basis, by the way, easy to make up, aren’t they?
Honestly, and this is probably a bad thing for a ‘prominent’ Lincoln City voice to say (arrogant, perhaps) but I was so ambiguous about yesterday’s game. All games matter, obviously, but some matter more than others. Some only matter as they unfold, and that perhaps sums up Reading more than anything.
Make no mistake, we beat a good team yesterday. We beat a team for which I have so much respect, I’m a borderline supporter. What those fans, staff and players have been through is appalling, and they’re still going through it. Yet, they’re up there, fighting for promotion. They survived last season with the sort of points deduction that has relegated bigger teams, and there’s still positivity in the air. Seeing their support so together, their team so motivated in the face of adversity, makes me a little jealous, especially when I go online later in the evening and see our fans falling out over one player. That’s what complacency does for you I guess, and I’m as complacent as anyone right now.
There’s a little bit to unpack, but not a massive amount, not really. If this were in September, I’d pour 2000 words onto your screen like I used to overfill my breakfast bowl with Coco Pops as a child. Instead, I’ll try and be a little liberal with the words, after all, we’ve all got better things to do today I’m sure.
What were the major talking points? Well, there was an outstanding save by George Wickens, from a player linked with both Watford and Blackburn this summer. A free kick caused a bit of an issue in our box, for a change, and Mbengue’s header looped over the defence, only for a big stopper to claw it away with one hand. Wickens has been a real asset since coming back from injury, he’s looked more confident and made a few big saves. I said we wouldn’t learn anything from the game, but we certainly saw glimpses of why we paid a fee to Fulham for him.
Up the other end, Ben Speedie ruled out a perfectly good goal for Ben House. Ben needs a goal, he was one of the players getting stick online last night. I won’t pretend I haven’t been a little disappointed this season, because I had him tagged as a huge presence for us when it all kicked off, and here we are, nine months later, and he’s not really shone. I think he’s been a different player since his injury last season, but not a bad one. He works tirelessly, and I think a goal might give him a little jump start, albeit a bit late in the season now. He was penalised for outmuscling Kelvin Abrefa, and watching back, it wasn’t the right decision.
Still, it pleased the home crowd, and after all they’ve been through, I suppose it was nice to see their smiles. Briefly.
In truth, they didn’t have a whole lot to smile about. City looked competent and complete, moving the ball nicely, creating chances and generally matching our top-six opponent. Odd, isn’t it, that we beat them to knock them out of the top six, and when we did them at Christmas, if memory serves, it was a win that moved us into the top six, and knocked them out of it. Football, a game full of irony.
On that occasion, Reading were poor, on this occasion, we just looked good. We got forward, gained a few corners (as we often do) and even got a few shots away. I really liked one from Freddie just before half time. It was a big route one, Wickens down the field, and Freddie collected his own flick on. He weaved past a defender and unleashed a shot like a player full of confidence. That’s one thing about Freddie I like – he never feels like he lacks confidence. In truth, he should maybe have laid the ball off to Gardner, but there’s been criticism in the past about us not shooting enough, so I’ve no issue with that at all.
I might have felt differently if we hadn’t won of course.
But we did.
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