City Pay The Penalty – Imps 0-1 Doncaster

City were left to rue countless missed chances last night, as Doncaster scored a penalty against the run of play. We made two changes to our lineup. Joe Walsh came into the starting XI for TJ Eyoma. While Morgan Whittaker came in for Anthony Scully. Tom Hopper and Ted Bishop also returned to the matchday squad. Hopper’s involvement was his first since our 1-0 loss at home to Ipswich Town.

Before I start some things are bigger than football, and all of my wishes go out to the supporter involved in the medical emergency and we are all praying to see you back soon at Sincil Bank.

We started really strongly. Our first chance came from a Doncaster mistake. Goalkeeper Jonathon Mitchell was inches away from an own goal but it just went past the post. We continued to control the game. Sanders and McGrandles impressed floating balls from side to side but we struggled to break down a rigid Doncaster side. Cohen Bramall struggled to have his usual impact with not much room for overlapping runs. I think we missed Anthony Scully massively, as he links the attack and midfield together and he links up really well with Cohen Bramall. Later on, in the half, multiple opportunities came in quick succession. A corner found Regan Poole at the back post, a good save from the Doncaster keeper bounced across goal causing mayhem and somehow the ball didn’t end up in the back of the net.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy was impressing once again and single-handedly created opportunities down the right-hand side. Despite the result, out of the last two games, we have found out what a player Norton-Cuffy is and how much of an asset he could be in this fight, not only with his defensive ability but his ability to create opportunities. It’s been the same story all season we create but can’t take chances, but even with that loss last night. We are five points clear with a game in hand and the six or seven sides below us are worse than us no doubt about it. In fact I’d say there is five teams above us that are worse than us.

We have now watched Morecambe and Doncaster come to Sincil Bank, and both have been utterly diabolical (no offence to their fans, although some seem to agree with me). If Doncaster don’t get that penalty, and we get a point from the game, we would have been, according to some fans, ‘robbed’ of three points because Doncaster didn’t create anything. At the end of the day they did get a penalty and they won the game. That is the harsh reality of last night, even if we did deserve something we didn’t get it.

I thought the referee was picky last night, but it seems every game we lose (or even win) the officiating was poor. It’s the EFL and they will not change, we have seen it long enough. The penalty decision was spot on, but anyone could have called it. Whether Joe Walsh put his arm in the way on purpose, we will never know from that angle. One thing we can blame Walsh for is the second yellow. I understand that he is going for the ball and frustration is setting in. For him to go into a challenge like that was foolish, he was very late and to do that in opposition area as a centre-half, there is no need. Let’s be honest, he didn’t cost us the game as the game was already dead but we lose yet another defender, and an important one at that for Saturday.

On a positive note, it was nice to see Tom Hopper back in the side after such a long time. He seemed to have more of an impact second half than Whittaker and Cullen. If Hopper is fit for sixty minutes Saturday, I see no reason to not lineup in a 442 with Marquis and Hopper leading the line. Every player has their off-days and yesterday might have been a blip, which hopefully it is.

Our home form doesn’t suggest that though. We sit 21st in the league based on home form. In comparison we are 9th in away form with three less games played. Something needs to change, and no it’s not the manager that needs to change. I think there is something underlying with our home form. Which I can guarantee MA is trying to fix. On the face of it, we struggle to break down teams. It could be a mentality thing for the young players with huge pressure in front of our own fans.

We saw a perfect example of it last night. Doncaster come and lined up in a block of five, a block of three and two attackers. They leave minimal room for our full-backs, and creative players such as Maguire, so we struggle. Teams such as Oxford came to the Bank to win the game, meaning space opened up for us. It’s not just Doncaster that have done it, of the top of my head, we’ve seen Shrewsbury, Wimbeldon Cambridge and Burton all have the same game plan against us.

I could write for hours about last night and waffle on, but last night was one of the nights. MA will be undoubtedly working hard with the team to try and pick up a crucial three points Saturday, which would be a massive boost for our survival.

The AllLincoln MOTM is Brooke Norton Cuffy.