When Paudie O’Connor left the Bank in the summer, he took more than just his armband with him.
For two seasons, he had been the defensive heartbeat: the organiser, the talker, the one who met every cross and fought every duel. His departure left a gap that needed to be filled by a huge character, if not a captain. In came Sonny Bradley from Derby County, a big name well into his thirties.
Did we get the right replacement? The eye test says we nailed it, but the stats have an interesting subplot.
This isn’t a competition about who was “better.” It’s about how two centre-halves defined different stages of Lincoln’s evolution, from a 3-5-2 to a 4-2-3-1, with a left-sided centre back replacing the man in the middle of a three.
O’Connor’s 2024/25 campaign came in a side that often defended deep and relied on resilience. Bradley’s 2025/26 season, under Michael Skubala, has seen less siege defending overall, but just as many moments where resilience is needed.
Paudie O’Connor’s game was about volume, according to the numbers. He engaged in more duels, made more recoveries, and cleared more danger than almost anyone else in the division. His 10.82 aerial duels per 90 tell you everything about the bombardment Lincoln faced last season. Bradley, by contrast, has averaged 7.10: a reflection of both style and circumstance. This Lincoln side has defended higher, pressed earlier, and spent less time soaking up waves of pressure.
It’s also a smaller sample size. O’Connor’s numbers from last season are based on 46 games, less suspensions, so show a broader cross section of styles we’ve come up against. Bradley currently has a smaller sample size.
Bradley’s efficiency looks strong. He has won 81.8% of his defensive duels compared to O’Connor’s 74.6%, and though the Irishman’s aerial win rate (64.4%) edges Bradley’s (62.9%), the latter’s selection of battles has been smarter. He hasn’t fought every fight — just the ones that mattered.
| Metric | Bradley (2025/26) | O’Connor (2024/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per 90 | 0.22 | 0.07 |
| Aerial duels / won % | 7.10 / 62.9% | 10.82 / 64.4% |
| Interceptions per 90 | 4.54 | 6.49 |
| Losses per 90 | 10.03 | 12.94 |
| Defensive duels / won % | 2.42 / 81.8% | 4.67 / 74.6% |
| Recoveries per 90 | 11.86 | 16.91 |
| Recoveries in opp. half % | 15.4% | 10.4% |
| Clearances per 90 | 4.03 | 5.01 |
| Fouls per 90 | 0.51 | 1.16 |
| Yellow cards per 90 | 0.07 | 0.25 |
| Red cards per 90 | 0.07 | 0.05 |
Bradley’s defensive approach has been rooted in anticipation rather than attrition. He positions himself half a yard deeper, letting the play develop before committing. That’s why his recoveries in the opposition half (15.4%) stand out. He’s been trusted to hold a higher line, step in when needed, and recycle possession without rashness. His calmness on the ball has given Lincoln’s build-up an anchor on the left side.
O’Connor, meanwhile, lived in the trenches. His role demanded constant contact and aerial combat. Lincoln were more reactive last season, often sitting in and defending volume rather than territory. That explains why O’Connor’s numbers tower in most raw counts — he had to do more. Yet his consistency in those metrics was what kept Lincoln afloat through their rougher patches.
Another small but notable shift has come at the attacking end. Bradley has offered a genuine aerial outlet from set pieces, averaging 0.22 goals per 90, already ahead of O’Connor’s 0.07 from last term. His positioning and movement at corners have been visibly deliberate, picking weaker markers and attacking near-post zones. That’s not to say O’Connor didn’t contribute: his knack for knockdowns and second balls often led indirectly to goals, but Bradley’s end product has been clearer.
His discipline has been just as valuable. With just 0.51 fouls per 90 and a single yellow so far, Bradley has stayed on the right side of the line. O’Connor’s 1.16 fouls and higher card count came with the territory of heavier duelling and a tendency to say a bit too much.
In short, the numbers suggest O’Connor thrived on resistance, and Bradley has thrived on control. One defended space that kept shrinking; the other now commands a shape that keeps expanding. Both were, and are, leaders in their own right, reflections of their team’s evolution.
Lincoln’s defensive identity has changed, but its heartbeat hasn’t. Whether the task was to survive or to stabilise, these two centre-halves have stood at the core of it.
They’re proof that leadership wears more than one face, and that progress sometimes looks like doing less because you’ve learned to do it better.
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