September might not be over in terms of days, but it is in terms of Lincoln City matches.
During this month, we grabbed eight more Championship points, with our defensive strength providing the foundation for another encouraging month. We played six matches across the Championship and Carabao Cup, recording two wins, two draws and two defeats. We scored four goals and conceded seven, although four of those came in the cup defeat at Bournemouth.
In the league, there were home draws against Blackburn Rovers and Southampton, followed by successive 1-0 victories at Preston North End and Bristol City. Swansea City then came from behind to beat us at Sincil Bank, but three clean sheets across our five Championship fixtures helped ensure September brought another useful return.
Who was your Player of the Month? Which game stood out to you the most? Here’s how the Stacey West readers voted.
You can now check out all the winners of our monthly awards by going to our Roll of Honour page
Player of the Month
Deji Elerewe (7.64)
Deji Elerewe takes September’s Player of the Month award, edging out Freddie Draper by just 0.01 in the readers’ ratings. After finishing narrowly behind Ben House in August, Deji goes one better this time with a monthly score of 7.64.
His outstanding display against Blackburn set the standard, earning an 8.65 as we recorded a goalless draw. He was also the readers’ standout performer in our victory at Bristol City, scoring 8.48 as another clean sheet helped us bring three points home.
Those were two excellent individual performances in a month when our defensive organisation was again central to our results. Deji’s ability to win challenges, anticipate danger and cover ground gave us plenty to appreciate, with the Blackburn display offering a particularly strong example of everything he brings to the back line.
Freddie pushed him all the way, finishing on 7.63 after a month which included the winning goal at Bristol City. Adam Reach takes third with 7.26, while Andrei Coubis and Ryley Towler complete the top five on 7.20 and 7.17 respectively.
Individual Performance of the Month
Deji Elerewe (Blackburn H) 8.65
Deji makes it a double, with his performance in the goalless draw against Blackburn earning September’s highest individual rating. His 8.65 put him comfortably ahead of Ryley Towler, who finished second in that game’s voting on 7.73.
The Wyscout figures from the match underline why readers rated him so highly. Deji won eight of his nine duels, including all four defensive duels and four of his five aerial challenges, combining physical strength with the anticipation needed to stop attacks developing.
He also made six interceptions, five clearances and 15 possession recoveries, doing all of that without committing a foul. Alongside his work in the challenges, his reading of the game helped us keep Blackburn out and record a second successive Championship clean sheet.
There was a contribution in possession as well, with 35 of his 45 passes finding a teammate. However, it was the quality and consistency of his defending that made this the standout individual display of September.
Deji Elerewe — where he played this match. Brighter areas are where he spent most time; he is attacking left to right.
Best Team Performance of the Month
v Bristol City (A) 7.43
Our 1-0 victory at Bristol City takes the team award, with the 15 player ratings producing an average of 7.43. It was our second successive away win, following the victory at Preston, and another afternoon when the whole side contributed to protecting a narrow lead.
Freddie Draper scored the decisive goal after Ben House’s pressing helped force the opening, and both featured prominently in the readers’ ratings. Freddie finished on 8.13 and Ben on 8.03, joining Deji Elerewe and Sonny Bradley above the eight mark.
Deji led the way on 8.48, with Sonny second on 8.26 and Ryley Towler completing the top five on 7.89. Having all three centre-backs so high in the voting reflected the strength of the defensive display as we held on to our advantage.
George Wickens, Adam Reach, Ivan Varfolomeev and Conor McGrandles also scored above 7.50, underlining the breadth of the contribution. There were outstanding individual displays, but this award recognises the collective effort that secured another valuable Championship victory.
Only players who registered this stat are listed — somebody on nought tackles is not part of a tackle ranking, and padding the table with them buries the players who did something. Bars are scaled to the best figure shown; this is a within-match ranking, not a league-wide one.
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