I always felt early Lincoln City red cards were rare, and that two in a game was unheard of. Admittedly, it’s not often we’re down to nine men on 23 minutes, but we do often lose a man in the first half.
Yesterday we started in 1996/97, tracking all of the red cards given to Lincoln City players in the first half of games. I probably enjoyed compiling the list more than you enjoyed reading it, and the same is likely the case for part two.
3 February 2007: Jamie Forrester (41) Notts County, 1-3
An alleged off-the-ball kick at Austin McCann cost City Jamie Forrester’s services shortly before half-time at Meadow Lane. Uriah Rennie produced a straight red in the 41st minute, prompting prolonged protests from the Imps. City were trailing 1-0 but had created several opportunities through Mark Stallard and seen Jeff Hughes head against a post, making the dismissal a significant setback.
Jay Smith’s second-minute opener was followed by Jason Lee’s header just before the break, with Lawrie Dudfield adding County’s third after 61 minutes. Substitute Spencer Weir-Daley pulled one back in the 89th minute, and a late penalty briefly offered further hope. Kevin Pilkington saved Scott Kerr’s spot-kick and Weir-Daley’s follow-up, leaving City beaten 3-1 and down to fifth in the table.
7 April 2007: Nat Brown (29) Stockport County, 0-0
Nat Brown was already heading down the tunnel when referee Keith Hill sent off Stockport’s Liam Dickinson too. Their 29th-minute confrontation had seen Dickinson appear to attempt a headbutt, leaving City supporters puzzled when Brown was the first to receive his marching orders. Both ultimately received straight reds, meaning the remaining hour was played at ten against ten rather than with City at a numerical disadvantage.
Wayne Hennessey’s excellent save from Jamie Forrester’s looping header helped keep the game goalless, while Scott Kerr later cleared off the line after Alan Marriott missed a corner. City were also frustrated when the final whistle sounded as Jeff Hughes ran through towards goal. The 0-0 draw further dented the Imps’ hopes of automatic promotion.
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