The imps had to settle for a point last night away from home against struggling Fleetwood.
Michael Appleton made four changes to the side that beat Charlton last weekend. Brooke Norton-Cuffy came out of the side with injury, meaning Regan Poole played right-back, with a centre-half pairing of Joe Walsh and Adam Jackson. We all expected Liam Bridcutt to be rested, but he has picked up a quad injury, but the seriousness is not known right now. Chris Maguire, Tom Hopper and John Marquis also all came into the side.
We looked pre-match that we’d set up in a 4-4-2, which we did in a way. Hopper and Marquis were the front two, with Scully wide but with Maguire tucked in coming into the middle. I thought MA got the tactics all wrong, but that is easy to say after the match. I thought Hopper and Marquis were poor, but people saying that they are a poor partnership have forgotten how efficient they have been in games such as the Sheffield Wednesday home game. I definitely don’t think they are a bad partnership, but we lacked creativity in front of them last night, and when they both came off for Bishop and Cullen, we looked more likely to create.
If a team scores a well-worked goal against us, it’s easier to take the blow of conceding. The one last night really annoyed me, the bit that annoys me the most is John Marquis, he loses the header and then stands around not chasing back. Conor McGrandles rushes and gets easily turned then Jordan Wright makes a mistake as it goes under him, it may have potentially taken a deflection but you can make your own judgment on that one. I could spend ages talking about the performances of Maguire, Hopper and Marquis, but as you know I’m not one to scapegoat players. We know who played well and who didn’t so I don’t need to tell you certain players didn’t play well.
One player that did play very well last was Lewis Fiorini. Potentially one of the best individual performances of the season in that second half. He has had a difficult season but he has been probably our best loan player of the year, and he has progressed since arriving in pre-season. I touched on it above, but seeing Liam Bridcutt injured again is so frustrating. He is so crucial for us when he is fit, but the problem is he isn’t fit and available enough.
Liam Cullen and Ted Bishop were excellent when they came on. I said it on twitter, but for those who didn’t see it. I think Cullen has to start this weekend no matter what. He led the line well at Charlton and his link up play last night was really good. Bishop also needs to start for me, with Fiorini and McGrandles in a midfield three.
I’ll keep it short as my report is late compared to others.
The AllLincoln MOTM is Lewis Fiorini.