Brief Synopsis (Lincoln)

[up the line]

Really poor second half. Wilson and Scarr were off the boil, and Houghton's form is a worry. Far too much giving away of the ball across the team.

Edwards and Grant were nullified and we ran out of ideas.

Ennis & Jephcott looked sharp, but at the same time we miss the option that Hardie gives us in terms of running in behind. We are a better counter attacking unit with him in the side.

Randell was MOTM for me and I would for the first time this season consider replacing Houghton with him. We have so many options in midfield and Houghton is not playing with the kind of conviction as earlier on.

Too many of the regulars are a bit off form.

No mention of how shocking Broom was.
Quelle suprise.
But yeah he had that 'great' shot 😂😂😂

 

[Shoenice]

No mention of how shocking Broom was.
Quelle suprise.
But yeah he had that 'great' shot 😂😂😂

What do you mean 'shocking'. You make it sound like he was atrocious. There is something seriously wrong with you. You must be 12.

 

[Steve Evans]

i thought broom was terrific.

 

[Shoenice]

i thought broom was terrific.

I thought he was average but I thought that this was a tight game in which he wasn't able to find much space. And in moments he didn't do too bad. But he wasn't able to get a foothold. How on earth he was 'atrocious', only that 12 year old kid knows. He was about a 6. No less, at best 6.5.

Would love some analysis behind how Broom was atrocious, but UTL (edited by Admin - keep the insults to yourself) can't actually back up anything he says.

 

[Cobi Budge]

Need to get 4 points minimum from our next 2 games to keep ourselves in touch, otherwise we risk the season petering out.

 

[Nobby]

A frankly weird game of football. We were the far better team in the first half, but could quite easily have conceded a few times. The entire game the wing backs were playing to high up, it was the exact same issue at Sheffield Weds. Thankfully, Dan Scarr cut out about 20 cut backs today, else the score would've been embarrassing. The only one he didn't get to ended up going in. Individually, I think the back 3 all played well, but as a team we did not defend well enough. Too much space on the flanks, nobody screening the back 3 effectively and that ball in behind got them in far too many times. All three of the centre backs made vital tackles and blocks to prevent almost certain goals. On another day we could've conceded a hatful.

At the other end, we created a lot of openings but not clear cut ones. I thought the first 45 was Jephcott's best for a long time. Broom ran around a lot without any real impact. Houghton was poor again. Adam Randell continued to cement his place in the team, but wasn't as good in the second half. Ennis very good but didn't really get many shots away. I felt we missed Mayor and his ability to progress the ball from deep / operate in tight spaces.

Cooper - 7
Edwards - 6
Wilson - 7
Scarr - 7
Crichlow - 7
Grant - 6
Houghton - 5
Broom - 5
Randell - 7
Ennis - 7
Jephcott - 7

Looking at the results around us, automatics is gone, but we knew that already. We're well in the playoff mix, but silly points dropped today are so costly. If you can't win, at least don't lose.

 

[up the line]

I thought he was average but I thought that this was a tight game in which he wasn't able to find much space. And in moments he didn't do too bad. But he wasn't able to get a foothold. How on earth he was 'atrocious', only that 12 year old kid knows. He was about a 6. No less, at best 6.5.

Would love some analysis behind how Broom was atrocious, but UTL is thick and can't actually back up anything he says.

Oh Im thick because I don't have an unending fascination with Broom being some sort of genius 😘 ciao for now Alf flipping Ramsey 😂😂😉

 

[Shoenice]

Oh Im thick because I don't have an unending fascination with Broom being some sort of genius 😘

Again, not one useful thing you said. Every single post. Embarrassing yourself.

 

[Larry David]

very enjoyable match where i thought a draw would have been fair but this is football and fair play to lincoln for playing to the end,a very good side as we are.my ratings;
Cooper 8
Wilson 8
Scarr 8
Critchlow 8
Houghton 5
Edwards 7
Grant 7
Broom 8
Randell 9
Jephcot 9
Ennis 9

😂

 

[Balham Green]

So disappointing.

We were so good for the first half and yet completely the opposite for the second half.
We are now conceding soft goals. The defence has moments of brilliance (Wilson's goal saving tackle for instance) and then go to sleep and concede two poor goals that should have been stopped.

On the plus side Ennis and Randell were good, Jephcott was back on the scoresheet and the left side was revitalised with the re-introduction of Broom.

Camara was a surprise name on the bench, Mayor was house hunting in the Preston area 😃 , Jephcott and Ennis led the attack and Crichlow made his debut in place of Gillesphey.

The game started at a frantic pace, each side keen to assert some authority.
Jephcott was doing well by dropping team and linking play and also finding some great passes and one of these found Randell who was clear on goal but instead of shooting he looked for a pass and the delay enabled the Lincoln defenders to clear.

A similar chance happened at the other for Marquis and he also chose to pass instead of shooting and Crichlow cleared the danger.

The Grant and Broom combination on the left was causing problems, we are more direct on that side when Broom plays and it was Broom who had a shot well saved.

Lincoln did have some very good opportunities but either shot other the bar or wide of the post.

We got our deserved goal when Houghton played a neat pass to Ennis out wide, he tricked his way past a defender and layed the ball back to Jephcott who fired a low shot into the far corner. 1-0.

We really needed to grab a second goal while we were on top. We didn't and paid the price.

The second half was a different game.
We stood off Lincoln and allowed them to play.

Edwards went to close down a player high up the pitch, the ball was played into the space vacated by Edwards and Scully raced past Wilson and his near post cross was finished off by Marquis.
That was really poor from Edwards to commit himself like that.

We rallied and tried to stem the flow of Lincoln attacks, although the left side struggled to be the same force as the first half.

A Randell free-kick was well saved.

Passes went astray, we were lethargic and couldn't stem the Lincoln attacks.

Houghton picked up an injury and was replaced by Camara to much expectation. Randell moved into the quarterback role.

Edwards was also replaced with Garrick coming on at RWB although late in the game it was all change again - Jephcott was subbed, Law went to LWB, Garrick went up front, Grant moved into midfield and Broom shuffled over to RWB.

The killer blow came in the 92nd minute when we failed to clear a corner and it was headed in. 1-2.
The first half performance didn't deserve that, the second half performance did.

Game over.

Ennis did well up front, he surprisingly win a lot of headers but Jephcott didn't have the pace to feed off them.
He also did well holding up the ball and fending off the Lincoln centre-backs.

Jephcott did well with his passing and linking play, he will make a very good midfielder.

Wilson made a superb goal saving tackle, Scarr was dominant in the air and Crichlow did well on his debut - he has a languid style of play.
And yet collectively the defence conceded two soft goals and it could have been more.

Edwards was poor today, he gives everything but the team needs something better defensively and in attack.
He commented himself too much for the first goal which highlights the problem of playing with wing-backs.

Camara didn't make the expected impact and was largely anonymous.

Broom gave the team a new attacking dimension on the left - he's direct and fast and linked well with Grant.
That combination play just doesn't happen on the right side.

Randell did well in both roles although his lack of pace in the Camara role let him down at times. Two different players for that same role.

Cooper's kicking was poor and he looked off it today.

Overall frustrating and disappointing.

Man of the Match - Ennis.

Cooper 5, Wilson 6, Scarr 6, Crichlow 6, Houghton 5, Edwards 4, Randell 7, Broom 7, Grant 6, Jephcott 7, Ennis 7. Subs - Camara 5, Garrick 5, Law n/a.

The goals 'should have been stopped'. All goals should be stopped. They had numerous situations and eventually made us pay. I would say we probably edged the 1st half but certainly didn't dominate. As you say Lincoln 'had some very good opportunities'.
I don't think the back 3 played badly. They were exposed numerous times by our lack of control in Midfield and down the flanks. We have a sizeable back room staff but they don't seem to have the ability to change the system or the course of the game when we are struggling. Just like for like subs.
Anyway it was a deserved defeat. You can see why they beat Blunderland and Oxford recently. You have to be a good side to do that. And that was before they signed Marquis.

 

[Larry David]

So disappointing.

We were so good for the first half and yet completely the opposite for the second half.
We are now conceding soft goals. The defence has moments of brilliance (Wilson's goal saving tackle for instance) and then go to sleep and concede two poor goals that should have been stopped.

On the plus side Ennis and Randell were good, Jephcott was back on the scoresheet and the left side was revitalised with the re-introduction of Broom.

Camara was a surprise name on the bench, Mayor was house hunting in the Preston area 😃 , Jephcott and Ennis led the attack and Crichlow made his debut in place of Gillesphey.

The game started at a frantic pace, each side keen to assert some authority.
Jephcott was doing well by dropping team and linking play and also finding some great passes and one of these found Randell who was clear on goal but instead of shooting he looked for a pass and the delay enabled the Lincoln defenders to clear.

A similar chance happened at the other for Marquis and he also chose to pass instead of shooting and Crichlow cleared the danger.

The Grant and Broom combination on the left was causing problems, we are more direct on that side when Broom plays and it was Broom who had a shot well saved.

Lincoln did have some very good opportunities but either shot other the bar or wide of the post.

We got our deserved goal when Houghton played a neat pass to Ennis out wide, he tricked his way past a defender and layed the ball back to Jephcott who fired a low shot into the far corner. 1-0.

We really needed to grab a second goal while we were on top. We didn't and paid the price.

The second half was a different game.
We stood off Lincoln and allowed them to play.

Edwards went to close down a player high up the pitch, the ball was played into the space vacated by Edwards and Scully raced past Wilson and his near post cross was finished off by Marquis.
That was really poor from Edwards to commit himself like that.

We rallied and tried to stem the flow of Lincoln attacks, although the left side struggled to be the same force as the first half.

A Randell free-kick was well saved.

Passes went astray, we were lethargic and couldn't stem the Lincoln attacks.

Houghton picked up an injury and was replaced by Camara to much expectation. Randell moved into the quarterback role.

Edwards was also replaced with Garrick coming on at RWB although late in the game it was all change again - Jephcott was subbed, Law went to LWB, Garrick went up front, Grant moved into midfield and Broom shuffled over to RWB.

The killer blow came in the 92nd minute when we failed to clear a corner and it was headed in. 1-2.
The first half performance didn't deserve that, the second half performance did.

Game over.

Ennis did well up front, he surprisingly win a lot of headers but Jephcott didn't have the pace to feed off them.
He also did well holding up the ball and fending off the Lincoln centre-backs.

Jephcott did well with his passing and linking play, he will make a very good midfielder.

Wilson made a superb goal saving tackle, Scarr was dominant in the air and Crichlow did well on his debut - he has a languid style of play.
And yet collectively the defence conceded two soft goals and it could have been more.

Edwards was poor today, he gives everything but the team needs something better defensively and in attack.
He commented himself too much for the first goal which highlights the problem of playing with wing-backs.

Camara didn't make the expected impact and was largely anonymous.

Broom gave the team a new attacking dimension on the left - he's direct and fast and linked well with Grant.
That combination play just doesn't happen on the right side.

Randell did well in both roles although his lack of pace in the Camara role let him down at times. Two different players for that same role.

Cooper's kicking was poor and he looked off it today.

Overall frustrating and disappointing.

Man of the Match - Ennis.

Cooper 5, Wilson 6, Scarr 6, Crichlow 6, Houghton 5, Edwards 4, Randell 7, Broom 7, Grant 6, Jephcott 7, Ennis 7. Subs - Camara 5, Garrick 5, Law n/a.

Very good pretty much as I saw it👍

 

[Tynan One Nil]

Missed Mayor’s guile particularly in the last 20 mins, I agree 4 points minimum this week, can’t make Fleetwood but looking forward to the visit to Donny.
Keep the faith.

 

[greenking]

This one is a difficult one to accept....

We seemed full of endeavour and effort but really failed to carve out many decent openings.

As previous poster said, wing-backs playing very high but largerly ineffective, and because they were high left vast areas in the channels for Lincoln to exploit with pace.

They had a few sniffs at it first half but clearly that was their message at the break and they ran us ragged at times in the 2nd. If they could finish it wouldve been game over by 70mins.

As for argyle, dont wanna be too crictical of Ennis... but did he actually have a shot on goal in 90mins? Didnt even get in the position to finish.... and far too often wants to beat the player 4 times before finding a pass or cross.

Houghton was poor and we improved massively when he went off and Randell played centrally.
Missed Mayor badly... could've done with a little more guile than Broom, Grant or Pan could supply.

 

[JannerCA]

I am questioning Cooper’s agility and he stands on his line too much while ball in 6 yard box. He should have come out to punch clear avoiding the second goal
A good shy stopper, however!

 

[Superguy]

I am questioning Cooper’s agility and he stands on his line too much while ball in 6 yard box. He should have come out to punch clear avoiding the second goal
A good shy stopper, however!

And how good was Sam Long in goal for them. 3 years younger than Cooper and very impressive. Big future.