TJ Eyoma – 100 Up – AllLincoln

You have probably heard by now that this weekend’s away fixture with Port Vale was TJ Eyoma’s 100th Lincoln City appearance. Since joining the club, originally on loan, in 2020, TJ has played part in some massive games for City, including a play-off final at Wembley and big wins against the likes of Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland.

TJ signed for City in January 2020 on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, around a year after he made his Spurs’ debut in the FA Cup against Tranmere Rovers. The young defender struggled to get game time in his first season and had his first professional loan experience cut short by a worldwide pandemic of Coronavirus. However, a lack of game time didn’t deter TJ from returning to the red and white part of Lincolnshire. He re-joined on loan and played a crucial part in an incredible season that saw Michael Appleton’s side defy all expectations and be in the hunt for promotion but unfortunately fall at the last hurdle at Wembley.

TJ said his goodbyes after the Wembley defeat and City prepared for life without the defender, but he didn’t stay away for long as he returned to the club on a permanent deal and was announced on the pitch prior to kick-off against Bolton Wanderers in August 2021, which was just the second home game since a full capacity Sincil Bank returned. Since then, TJ has played part in some important wins, including a win against Sheffield Wednesday at home and a goal that led to victory away from home against Wigan Athletic. This season, he has nailed down a starting spot under new management and is consistently improving every week under Mark Kennedy’s leadership.

In this piece, we will look at three of TJ’s best moments in a City shirt.

#3 – Securing Play-Offs

TJ Eyoma won the AllLincoln Man of the Match award as City secured the play-offs in a tightly contested match against Bristol Rovers away from home. An impressive run of form gave City the chance to secure the play-offs with multiple games to spare and TJ made sure we secured them in this game with a colossal performance at centre-half. The game saw TJ play only his second ninety minutes in sixteen games and from this point onwards he cemented himself as a starter for the run in to the end of the season.

Anthony Scully scored for City early on and that brought an onslaught from the home side but TJ along with his defensive partner Lewis Montsma defended well throughout.

#2 – First City Goal

Another impressive game followed for TJ as he netted his first professional goal against a strong Burton Albion side. A ball in from Tayo Edun was perfect for TJ, who was lurking at the back post, and it was a simple finish for the defender to give him his first Lincoln City goal.

Despite scoring, it was an even better defensive performance from the, at the time, on-loan defender. Burton Albion were pushing to get back into the tight contest and along with Montsma, Regan Poole and Edun, TJ stood strong and gave Burton nothing to celebrate about come the final whistle. Not only did City get all three points, but it also kept their slight chance of automatic promotion alive.

#1 – Massive Shift Against Ipswich

Another one of TJ’s best games in a City shirt came recently against Ipswich Town away from home. City faced an almost impossible challenge against one of the best sides in the league. Ipswich came into the game unbeaten at home while City came into the game off a draw with Charlton and a loss away at Bolton Wanderers earlier in the month.

A goal from Ben House meant everyone had to do their bit for the side and TJ was the best of the bunch for some. A number of blocks and interceptions coupled together with an ability to help City counterattack meant we claimed three points against some of the best players in the division. TJ’s performance itself was one of his best since returning to the club last summer and since then he is now pushing on and looking like he is getting back to his best.