Here is a question: what happened in the second half?
Take a moment and think. Yes, the home fans got stuck into all our favourite tunes, and the Rotherham end seemed to empty significantly. What happened on the pitch?
They had one shot, off target. That was it, Sam Nombe smashing it from so far out it registered as 0 xG. They had 63% of the ball and created literally nothing. What does that tell you? That at 3-0 we simply did what we’re good at doing. We let them have the ball and just enjoyed the win. If that game had been 0-0, you’d have seen a lot more, but you didn’t, because you didn’t need to. We didn’t ease off, we just didn’t need to do anything outside the same meticulous defending and solid out-of-possession work we’ve done all season.
Of course, we had the better chances. Ryan Oné, on as a sub, can feel really aggrieved he didn’t have more chances. Twice he was literally held in place by Agbaire, not in the area, but in the middle of the field. I’m not sure how Craig Hicks missed them both, from the St Andrews’ Stand it was so obvious. He offered something a bit different when he came on, and the only way a defeated Rotherham side could stop him was literally by holding him. I’m not saying it was a red card, or game changing, but I wasn’t impressed with the referee if I’m honest. He felt fussy in moments, then lenient in others, and he didn’t really do anything wrong, I just wouldn’t want him for another game. Rotherham made this quite an easy one to officiate.
We had chances to make it 4-0. A Jefferies break almost picked out Oné at the back stick, who had for once escaped the clutches of Baby Reindeer for just a moment. That corner saw Hamer head over, then McGrandles tried his luck from distance, with a vicious effort fizzing past the post. Darikwa had an effort shortly after, curling away from goal but struck nicely, and in fairness, 4-0 on the balance of chances wouldn’t have flattered us too much.
When we were called upon, everyone responded. Nombe looked to get free at one point and McGrandles chased him down like a hound chasing whatever it is they claim to be chasing these days (not foxes, your honour), before playing the ball off the striker for a goal kick. It has shades of Bostwick on Maddison for me, but was more reflective of the player. Bostwick was brute force and aggression, and a great challenge. McGrandles has a little more finesse and poise, but no less work rate, and the challenge was just as effective. Bearing in mind the one he made at Mansfield as well, he’s been so, so good of late.
Actually, all season.
Other than those chances, City were just effective. Rotherham didn’t get a sniff, and while 0-0 in the second half was described as being encouraging for them, they’ll have learned nothing. Lee Clark did give a decent interview at the end of the game, agreeing Watmore shouldn’t have had a penalty, and I respected that, but he’ll know nothing more about his players for his trip to the Bank. As I think I’ve mentioned, this isn’t about them, it is about us. They’re the faceless teams turning up here to get beat. They can write their stories away from Lincoln, because when we play, we’re the only narrative.
Arrogant? Maybe, but we should be. We won’t be, as in the club, because it’s not job done. The players remain humble, talk of anything other than the next game is hushed. Nobody inside the club wants to produce the quote that goes up on the Wimbledon dressing room wall, or the Reading dressing room wall. Nobody wants the backlash of saying anything before it is done. I spoke to a few club staff after the game last night, who shall remain nameless, and not one would even admit it looks more likely than not we’ll go up. They’re all focused on the next game, not beyond, almost to a point where it is scary. That’s how you grow a culture, though. If one gets carried away, like measles, it can spread. Everyone at the club is seemingly vaccinated against promotion excitement.
As fans, can we be arrogant? It’s probably not in our nature, but after 39 games, I’ve seen us lose two that we deserved to lose. Orient away and Rotherham away, and even the latter featured two controversial goals for them. Wimbledon we lost with ten men, Exeter we battered and should have won, and Wycombe we got back to 2-2 and should have led 3-2 before they got their late winner. Two games in 39 where we’ve lost and deserved it does lead me to think that this season is all about us. 22 unbeaten, seven points clear at the top, 18 clear of second place, one point for every team above us in the budget table. We should enjoy it. We should be proud, we should be excited, and we should crow about it.
As for Michael Skubala saying we should dream, a dream is often a fantasy, and I’m not sure ‘dream’ is the right word now. Why? Because in two weeks’ time, over Easter weekend, I believe we’re going to confirm our place in the Championship next season.
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