“I thought Bolger looked class.”

Views from Huntsward following yesterday’s 1-0 win at home against Grimsby Town in Sky Bet League Two: “A win is a win is a win. For the first twenty minutes, I thought we looked a lot better than lately, and back to ourselves. It’s a good job we got the goal because, for the remainder of the half, Grimsby could easily have had a couple from goalmouth scrambles. Not sure if we lost our way or we were a bit sussed.

Second half we weren’t anything special but improved whilst they ran out of ideas. I don’t think anyone particularly shone. Eardley looked much more like himself. Akinde seemed pretty ineffective but there are such fine margins with him that had a couple chances have come off, we may have thought he’d had a blinder.

I thought Bolger looked class. The odd moment, which is to be expected with a new player, but on the whole, I thought he was excellent. I don’t expect him to be out of the side between now and the end of the season.

Rowe is probably the shot in the arm we needed. Whether Bruno’s slight dip is down to injury or otherwise, Rowe’s energy I hope will give him a kick up the arse and food for thought for the remainder of the season. Anderson didn’t have his greatest game but likewise, it is a good thing that the established wingers have a bit of competition.

Form often goes out the window during derby matches, though it didn’t have the usual intensity of some of the more recent games against them. Had we not known Dean was a Premier League ref, we may not have guessed, but he was at least consistent. He seemed to give out cards for challenges which warranted yellows in the Premier League, which is exactly what he should have done. The rules are the same for us all.

Given that we had a couple of regulars out through suspension, and bringing in a couple of new signings, it was a decent enough performance. Three points. I’ll take that.”

More views from the Match Thread:

JT_LCFC: “Not at our best in a scrappy game. Not a lot of chances for either side but you never sensed Grimsby had anything in the final third and in truth the game was well managed without a whimper from the opposition.”

Chesterimp: “Agreed not the most thrilling of games or redblooded local derby despite the card count.

After the early goal, it looked like we could be in for a few more but faded in the 2nd quarter when some of Grimsby’s set pieces caused problems. 2nd half was bitty, neither side had any real control but we were always a threat on the break and never really threatened by Gy.

First impressions of Bolger were good, looked calm and assured. Rowe fizzed with pace and energy in his 30 mins, if he’s short of match fitness it didn’t show. Seemed to relish the roving 10 role.

Clear red, keeper hesitated which turned 50/50 into 40/60.

The sort of ugly, gnarly win which is an important building block of a promotion bid, I’ll bet Danny and Nicky were delighted with it.”

imps_joe: “I forgot how good Danny Rowe was. Pure quality when he came on. Gave us that much need zip in the middle of the pitch. Get him to full fitness and he’ll be very dangerous.”

Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!

"I thought Bolger looked class.":https://t.co/qjJOOGkKYV#ImpsAsOne #GTFC #Grimsby

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 20, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2024708010898767

Lincoln City				Grimsby Town
Toffolo 12'
Smith				McKeown
Eardley				Hendrie
Bostwick				Öhman			84'
Bolger				Ring
Toffolo				Embleton
Anderson				M. Rose
Frecklington				Whitmore			79'
O'Connor				Davis
Pett			90+4'	Hessenthaler
Akinde			89'	Cardwell			74'
McCartan			61'	Thomas
Substitutes
Vickers				Hall-Johnson
Wharton			90+4'	Welsh
Rhead			89'	Woolford
Chapman				Vernam			74'
Wilson				A. Rose			84'
Rowe			61'	Russell			79'
Brown				Pringle

Game Statistics
10	Goal attempts	4
2	On Target	1
4	Corners	6
16	Fouls	17
3	Yellow Cards	5
0	Red Cards	1
56	%	44