Lincoln City made it five unbeaten last night as we battled to a good point against a promotion-chasing Barnsley side at Sincil Bank.
Mark Kennedy was forced into a few changes due to injury and suspension, Jordan Wright started in goal in place of Carl Rushworth, after he was given a red card against Port Vale. The backline remained unchanged with Lasse Sorensen continuing in an unfamiliar wing-back role. The midfield partnership of Matty Virtue and Ethan Erhahon continued together, while Ben House and Danny Mandroiu missed out through injury handing a chance to Luke Plange and Dylan Duffy. The bench was certainly depleted, Tashan Oakley-Boothe returned to the matchday squad along with youngsters Sam Long and Jovon Makama.
In short, we went into a game against a top-four side in this division without Rushworth, Lewis Montsma, Joe Walsh, Charles Vernam, Ted Bishop, Danny Mandroiu and Ben House. If you look at that list every single player has impacted the squad this season and three of them would have definitely started yesterday if they were available, potentially even four or five. To get a point from that was extremely impressive.
We had the first proper chance of the game, some nice link-up play between Lasse and Ethan released Duffy down the right-hand side. The young winger whipped in a nice cross but Plange found himself just behind it, which was a sign of things to come for him. While we played well and got ourselves a good point, which everyone is quite pleased with, Plange has found himself coming under quite a bit of criticism. He isn’t Ben House, but I feel like he’s expected to be by quite a few fans. We’ve found ourselves lucky with House, not just his technical ability but his presence and certainly his pressing. Plange hasn’t got that presence, and that if you kick him he’ll go again and leave a tackle in on you mentality and he can’t press as well as Ben. My problem last night with Plange was I couldn’t see what role he was trying to play, he wasn’t getting in behind and didn’t look like he wanted the ball to feet. There is a good player in there, we saw it off the bench at Plymouth and he occasionally shows good touches and pieces of dribbling but it’s not consistent enough. I see him as very similar to Dan Nlundulu last season, he will probably go on another loan next season, do well and prove he’s a very capable player for this level but it’s just not quite happened for him here.
Both teams were having chances in a fairly energetic half of football, in particular, we had a few good opportunities from set pieces and were causing problems with Harry Boyes’ delivery being spot-on for most of the night. Plange had a looping header saved but the real big opportunity came through O’Connor. Another quality ball from Boyes was whipped towards the far post and was met by the head of Paudie, who agonizingly had his header hit the bar towards the end of the half.
I thought that the first half was pretty even, but it was one of them games where you thought that Barnsley would come out with a reaction in the second half and maybe get that all-important goal early. We did get that reaction from Barnsley and like I predicted they came out battling and firmly on the front foot. They didn’t get the goal they needed though, one chance of note came from a free-kick after Adam Jackson fouled their man on the edge of the area. Luckily after a goal line scramble, Wright was able to pounce and secure the ball.
From that point onwards, Barnsley failed to really threaten our goal. That’s right, a team that has scored seventy-four goals this season failed to create any opportunity of note against us. I say this every time we play this season nearly, but the trio of Regan Poole, Jackson and O’Connor was just incredible. Jackson in particular was excellent last night. He had his head to everything and was strong in every challenge but that has been the story of the season, when you have three defenders as good as the three I mentioned, you aren’t going to concede many goals. They deserve all the praise that comes their way and if we can get Jackson signed on a new deal, and replace Regan, then we have a big chance next season of bettering our league position.
Another player that I feel deserves a quick mention is Boyes. He had a difficult few months when he first came in, and I don’t mean he was bad but he failed to influence games as he would have liked as an attacking wing-back, but since that Sheffield Wednesday game he has really stepped it up and has even pushed Sean Roughan out of the side, a lad that has been on great form this season. I hope we can get Boyes again next season because he’s a player that I’m starting to really like.
Mide Shodipo had a difficult night I thought. He seems to be a player that works on confidence and when I’ve watched other games this season, it isn’t just Mide that is like it. There are a few in our squad and many in football in general. I personally think a player’s first meaningful act in a game sets the scene for the rest of the game, especially if they work on confidence. For example, a defender getting a big header in early doors sets the pace and Mide struggled to get that confidence booster. He failed to play three balls through in quick succession and from that point onwards he started to have less of the ball and had less of an impact. It doesn’t change my stance on him at all, I think he is our best out-and-out wide player at the club and if he was to return next season, I’d be very pleased but last night he had an average game, but even our best attackers in the last few years have had games where they struggle to show their quality, even Brennan Johnson, and look at him now.
On the other flank though it was a completely different story. Dylan Duffy made his full debut for us and he was excellent. I’m really excited by Dylan, a young player that has now got an opportunity due to injury and if he can continue in the same vein as he did last night, we could have another Ben House on our hands. I don’t want to big him up too early, but it’s very hard not to. This looks like some coup by Jez and the recruitment team and hopefully, Dylan can continue like this and cement his place in our starting eleven.
We have had eight 0-0 scorelines this season, but yesterday was different. It was a game that had me on the edge of my seat, the game was an exciting one and both sets of players wanted to win the game. I went home feeling pleased with a point and knowing that League One status is secured next season and that we have the potential to push into the top ten with the right recruitment next season.
We have four games left now and I feel we end this season with so much more certainty than we did the last. We have a manager that will be here, and a core of a squad that will be here. The future is bright at Lincoln City and I feel the Mark Kennedy era is only just starting to get into full flow. I will be at Wycombe on Saturday, and I am confident I will see us bring at least a point back to Lincoln with our current form and continue our push into the top ten. Thank you for your support and Up The Imps!