Lincoln held Championship side Norwich City to a goalless draw at Sincil Bank tonight in a display that will give optimists amongst the Imps faithful a real shot in the arm, with just 10 days to go until the start of the season.
Chris Sutton’s side matched the Canaries in most departments and were the better side for the first half-hour, as Albert Jarrett and Mustapha Carayol led the visitors a merry dance.
A goal would have capped off a fine all-round team performance, but a clean sheet from a rock-steady defence was a fitting reward against a strong Norwich side, who edged the second-half in front of 1,700 fans.
City, playing with a new-look 4-1-2-3 formation, with Cian Hughton deployed in front of the back four in a Claude Makelele role, had skipper Scott Kerr back in the starting XI alongside Josh O’Keefe, with Drewe Broughton in a lone frontman role, with Mustapha Carayol and Albert Jarrett providing support from the flanks.
Unlike Celtic on Saturday, Norwich gave several first-teamers a run-out with big money signing Simeon Jackson joined in the starting XI by Stephen Hughes, Elliott Ward, Jens Berthel Askou, Anthony McNamee, Oli Johnson and Matt Gill.
After Owain Tudor-Jones saw a third-minute header easily saved by keeper Joe Anyon, Lincoln turned on the power to create a quartet of chances within the next six minutes.
Joe Anderson’s long ball forward found Broughton who took the ball down only to scuff his shot at young Canaries keeper Jed Steer. A minute later, a superb cross into the area by Jarrett was almost met by the diving O’Keefe who just needed a touch to send the ball goalwards but missed it by a whisker.
A clearance from Anyon was again won by Broughton, but the big man’s effort lacked power, while Jarrett then broke up a Norwich attack and raced forward only to send a half-hearted effort straight at Steer.
In the 12th minute, Broughton took a pass from O’Keefe but blazed wide as they continued to lay siege to the Norwich goal without reward. Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins was sat in the stands doing his homework on Championship rivals Norwich, but he will surely have been more impressed with Lincoln and with £2million burning a hole in his pocket…
Midway through the half, City broke forward on the counter-attack and a sublime crossfield ball from Carayol found his sparring partner Jarrett who raced forward, but failed to deliver a decent finish.
Norwich hit back and in a goalmouth melee, Johnson slipped when attempting to fire goalwards and the chance was gone. McNamee then fired wide after latching on to a clearance from Moses Swaibu, before Anyon rushed out to save at the feet of Jackson, who was feeding off scraps in what was a frustrating evening for the Canadian international.
City nearly broke the deadlock nine minutes before the break on the counter. The ball found its way to Carayol who delivered a pinpoint cross to the back stick, where Broughton got ahead of his marker to get in a shot only to see Steer keep the ball out with a combination of legs, body and post.
In what was becoming a familiar trend, Carayol again broke clear but his radar was off target, while McNamee’s effort late in the first half was dealt with by Anyon.
City made one change at the break with Jamie Clapham replacing Paul Green in a straight swap and it was Norwich who started the second half the brighter, with Anyon producing an excellent diving stop to thwart Johnson after an initial shot was charged down by Adam Watts and Swaibu.
Jarrett and Carayol combined to great effect again just before the hour mark, but the former Torquay winger fired wide.
Clark Keltie came on for Kerr and Gavin McCallum replaced the hard-working Broughton after 68 minutes, but it was Paul Lambert’s men who threatened again when second-half sub Andrew Crofts saw his strike kept out well by Anyon again.
With 14 minutes left in a half that was a pale shadow of the first period, Andy Hutchinson came on for the excellent Carayol, who is quickly becoming the darling of the Sincil Bank faithful after another sublime showing on the wing.
The game was petering out into a draw, but Lincoln were nearly gifted a late winner when a visiting defender poked the ball towards his goal and with Steer sprawling to his left, was relieved to see it roll just wide. And from Jarrett’s resultant corner, Watts headed into the side-netting.
And as the game entered the two minutes of designated stoppage time, Anyon again kept Lambert’s men out, diving to his left to palm away another Crofts shot before the whistle was blown for full time.
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