I have decided to introduce a new style of article to the site, that not only adds to the match reviews but also gives fans an opinion. That new style of article will be player ratings, each player will receive a rating out of ten and it won’t be based on in depth statistics but more on what I or whoever is writing it can see as a fan. I am aware that these sort of concepts can become just criticising players for weeks on end but I’d like this to just become an opinion related piece of who had an impact on the game, whether we win, lose or draw.
This will also become an AllLincoln award, with the player with the highest average rating winning it, but obviously with it only being September, I will explain more of that closer to the end of the season.
On Saturday, we took on newly promoted Bristol Rovers. We went into the game coming off the back of a really positive two goal win against Derby, while Rovers came into with poor form and no recognized centre-halfs in the starting lineup. The game finished 6-3 and despite some poor defending, City can be happy with the majority of how they played on Saturday.
Carl Rushworth – 6.5
It was an unusual day at the office for City goalkeeper Carl Rushworth. The on-loan keeper is normally a reliable figure at the back, but Saturday was a day of inconsistency for him. While he made some good saves and commanded his area well, he could have done more for two of the goals by staying on his line. Although he wasn’t helped by his defenders Rushworth himself will most likely consider it a bad performance considering his extremely high standards we have seen over the first months of the season.
TJ Eyoma – 6.5
It isn’t easy to shine in a defence that conceded three goals and despite doing nothing wrong Eyoma wasn’t at his best. He was excellent against Derby mid-week but he struggled to influence the attacking play throughout the game but he defended fairly well considering the score-line. He has improved since he was substituted at half-time against Cambridge and hopefully in the coming games that can continue.
Paudie O’Connor – 6.5
Paudie O’Connor has played every minute of league action for City since arriving from Bradford City in the summer. He endured a difficult game at the Memorial Stadium yesterday, with the Rovers attack utilizing their strength in speed against a rather slow O’Connor. It was certainly not his best performance, but he showed multiple times this season (Derby and Portsmouth come to mind) that his no-nonsense defensive approach is important.
Regan Poole – 7
Regan Poole may have been at major fault for the first Bristol Rovers goal, he saved the game for us in the first half. City raced into a two goal lead but due a mistake at the back allowed Rovers back into it and the momentum was certainly on their side. It could have been very easily 2-2, but an incredible goal line clearance from vice-captain Poole saved the day. While it wasn’t his best day at the office and he would have got a 6.5 but with the clearance he gets bumped up to a 7.
Sean Roughan – 7
A few years ago, Sean Roughan broke into the first team as a seventeen year old under Michael Appleton. Part of me didn’t expect him to be here right now, but at a team higher in the pyramid after impressing but he hit a few stumbling blocks along the way and now he is back impressing in the City first team again. He was my MOTM against Derby and he continued his impressive form on Saturday, despite conceding three. It will certainly be hard for Jamie Robson to break back into the team.
Lasse Sorensen – 6.5
Lasse Sorensen has felt like a new signing for us over the last few months, but Saturday wasn’t one of his best performances. He struggled to help us get a grip of the game after we scored our first two goals but he did play a beautiful ball for Jack Diamond’s third and our fifth of the game. In an end to end game, the holding midfielder was always going to struggle but with his performances so far this season, it was just a minor blip.
Matty Virtue – 7.5
I have been really impressed with Matty Virtue since his debut against Cambridge in the second half. He looks relaxed on the ball, and his range of passing is excellent. His performance was backed up when he scored a nicely hit goal to round of an impressive week for the midfielder. He excelled on his full debut against Derby and he backed that up with a well rounded performance and a goal on Saturday.
Tashan Oakley-Boothe – 7.5
Personally, I think this was one of Tashan Oakley-Boothe’s best outings in a City shirt. Admittedly he has had a poor start to the season but I think on Saturday we saw what he was all about. His involvement in the fourth goal was key with a driving run from midfield, practically forcing something out of nothing and his all round game improved from what we have seen previously.
Jordon Garrick – 5.5
I really like Jordon Garrick. What is there not to like? He is a direct runner with pace and trickery, everything we missed earlier in the season. However, I feel he struggled to show that on Saturday and he was marked out of the game. He was hooked at half-time deservedly and he will need to have his work cut out with the likes of Vernam wanting his spot in the team.
Ben House – 9
Three weeks ago we were all hoping that Deadline Day would see a centre-forward come through the door to back up and challenge Tom Hopper. It reached 11pm on Deadline Day and that signing didn’t come. However, it appears we already had the solution and he was playing in midfield at that point. He scored another two goals after his one on Tuesday night and he kept Captain Hopper out of the team. It was an impressive day all round for House.
Jack Diamond – 10
It would be hard to argue against giving Jack Diamond a ten rating, and I think no one will have any complaints with this one. Since he has arrived, he has been very impressive and a player that we were crying out for at the start of the year. He has been better than we had imagined he would have been and with three goals, there was no way he would get below a ten.
Substitutes
Charles Vernam – 7
Charles Vernam has had a slow start to the season due to injuries but he looked good in the second forty-five minutes of the game and he has another chance to impress on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy.
Adam Jackson – 7
Kept it tight at the back for us yet again after coming in from the bench. Unlucky not to be starting games and will surely get an opportunity on Tuesday night.
Tom Hopper – N/A
Jamie Robson – N/A
I hope you enjoyed the first edition of the AllLincoln Player Ratings and I hope it felt as if it was an unbiased view of the game and the players. I will hopefully be back with a similar piece for the Doncaster game after our match review.