Tom Shaw’s side made it two wins from two games on Tuesday night, with an emphatic 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic.
Tom named a slightly unfamiliar side, with a few changes from the weekend. Lukas Jensen started in goal, ahead of Alex Mitchell, Adam Jackson and Paudie O’Connor. Jack Burroughs started at right wing-back, with Sean Roughan returning to the side in a slightly more advanced left wing-back role, while Ethan Hamilton and Ethan Erhahon remained ever present in the middle. Summer signing Ali Smith kept his place in the side, making back to back league starts. Hakeeb Adelakun returned to the side, while Lasse Sorensen moved into a further forward right-wing role.
It was a makeshift team, that not many could work out pre-match. Michael Appleton made his return to Sincil Bank for the first time since April 2022, and that was a big story in itself. What made the story even bigger was that he came back to the Bank with one of the biggest clubs in League One in the middle of an unbeaten run, coming off the back of a 4-0 demolition of Reading just three days before. There were players in our starting eleven with a point to prove to a former manager, Haks and Lasse were completely banished from the team towards the end of the season, and were pretty much told they weren’t needed at that point, while Roughan was used once by Appleton in over a year. Players with points to prove are dangerous – just look at Chris Maguire against Sunderland.
The first ten minutes felt anything like a big occasion. Charlton imposed themselves, and had a lot of the ball, like you expect from a typical Michael Appleton side. In a night where we might have hoped for a 0-0 draw, we found ourselves a goal down within the first ten. It was a well worked move by Charlton, but we made it easy for the visitors and Alfie May to tap it home for an early lead.
The next 20 minutes was crucial for how the game played out. It would go one of two ways – we either concede another goal, and it could become embarrassing or we show some fight, and get back into the game. As we all know now, we did the latter and got ourselves back into it.
Go back to April 2022. Haks scores on the last game of the Appleton era, in what many of us thought would be his last game in a City shirt. The goal was a rare positive in a tough year for the winger. Mark Kennedy was appointed as head coach, and it looked as if Haks might have another chance at City. It didn’t work out that way though, even after he impressed in the first few games of the season. He was loaned out to League Two strugglers Gillingham Town towards the end of the transfer window and really struggled there. Fast forward to October 2023, and he’s stealing the headlines against the same manager that signed him and then froze him out in the same year. Success sometimes isn’t given to people that deserve it, but Haks certainly deserves it.
Haks’ equaliser was a massive turning point in the game and it was also a beauty of a finish. The move started with Lasse – who had an excellent first 45 minutes – before a good cross into the box from Burroughs, and then the move ended with a quality first touch and finish from Haks. We were level and it felt like the start of a special night.
Charlton collapsed after our goal, which meant we were pushing for the lead, and we were all out attack. When was the last time we saw that? Lasse could’ve had couple, with his biggest chance coming when his effort was saved, and then his rebound hit the post, before the ball went out for a corner. He was extremely unlucky, and despite a few missed chances, he was by far the best player on the pitch. Burroughs could’ve also had a goal too, but he couldn’t keep down his effort. The first half came to an end with City on top and good value for the score, although we probably deserved to be leading.
The second half got underway the same as the first half ended, with City in complete control of proceedings. We effectively controlled possession when we needed to and appeared secure in defence when out of possession. Our back three contained the visitor’s attacks, allowing them harmless possession and avoided overcommitment, which would’ve allowed Charlton in behind. As is usually the case in football, the focus may shift to different parts of the team like Lasse and Haks but Mitchell, Jackson, and O’Connor were outstanding all night and gave us a real platform to go on and get the result.
The second goal was outstanding, some would say an example of what we see at the highest level. Every single outfield player touched the ball in the build up before it ended up on the right with Burroughs. The on-loan wing-back played a beautiful ball with the outside of his foot to Lasse, the Dane picked out Haks with a low cross into the box for a simple tap in.
Haks was replaced shortly after to a standing ovation, in front of the manager that froze him out the team. His comeback is a great story, and I’m so pleased for him because he really deserves it. Jack Vale replaced him, which also felt good. A chance to see an actual recognised senior striker on the pitch, and straight away he showed us exactly what he was about with a strong challenge on the Charlton centre-half. If that’s anything to go by, then he’ll be a fans’ favourite here.
The third goal was the result of Vale’s aggressive play as he went after the ball, causing it to rebound and land at Roughan’s feet. The Irishman skillfully controlled the ball and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, ultimately calmly placing it into the net. It was a tidy and precise finish that just solidified the result at Sincil Bank, and allowed us to relax just a little into the last 15 minutes.
One player that has got lost in the performances of Lasse and Haks is Smith. He was excellent on the left hand side, and it feels like he hasn’t been given enough credit for his performance. It wasn’t just three individuals though, it was a whole team effort from Lukas in goal to Dylan Duffy coming off the bench – everyone pulled together and we reaped the rewards.
As we kicked off yesterday evening, it had been just been under a week since we made the change of manager, and with all the upheaval we managed to get yet another three points to make it six points from six. One man we have to thank for that is Tom Shaw, he has ensured all the players are focused and together this last week. He’s done an excellent job. If things carry on like this, then he’ll put himself in the picture for the next head coach, and there would be certainly something satisfying about that.
Everyone pulled together last night, and we looked really united as a team. If we go into Exeter with that same attitude, we’ll get the same performance, and hopefully another three points to go with that.