Many will cite Darlington`s plight, but like the Imps they played some football and suddenly the passing and the passion returned transforming Sincil sorrow to Sincil Swank. From a Lincoln perspective this was square pegs in square holes with an all round performance that screamed game plan and tactics throughout the whole 90 minutes. The passing and movement was superb, played on the ground with purpose and a style that had been missing pretty much throughout Peter Jackson`s reign. Ok we may not beat everyone but at least we will see opportunities and goals and can rely on a defence and goalkeeper that can get us out of jail time and again.
As we thought before the game, Clark likes to pressure the full backs, using his wide midfielders and overlapping full backs that look for the cross. When we lost Connor early on he immediately sent on Fagan with a simple message ‘keep the emphasis but whip in low crosses. With Kerr and Butcher continuing to play it wide to LJL and Jamie Clarke with the ever eager Brown and Hughton looking to get involved, Darlo were stretched every time we went forward. This allowed both our central midfielders to play their natural game and not surprisingly turn in season`s bests. Young Lenny got it wrong with his first touch, but no one moaned and he grew. Boy did he tear his man and their fullback apart today ably assisted by Brown. he was strong, won headers and went for the by-line. The only time he did cut in he skinned two and sent a rising shot narrowly over the bar into the Go Car windows. I bet a few dropped their prawns there.
The Imps went for the jugular from the off backed by the partisan Passionistas, heeding their young caretaker managers call. Hughton watched by his father took the overlap from Jamie skinned his man and sent in a low cross that was swept home by the Beast on two minutes. The ground erupted as 2,700 Imps celebrated a glorious new dawn and at this rate perhaps Sincil Swank might be more appropriate. Rennie continued his Beast to legend transformation on the half hour, as LJL skinned two players like something out of Silence of the Lambs and Howe touched home the cross to complete his brace. Yep we were going to dance all day at the house of Imp as the love overflowed, not that there was any sign of a slow one in sight. Speed, movement and the desire to get the ball forward was the order of the day with our counters causing mayhem throughout the game. Howe could have had four today, Fagan two and Butcher looks his old self too. Fagan did bag one again another fine move down the left that saw him draw his man and put it in off the far post.
Despite being three up we failed to add to the goals, though Knight and to be fair Burch too, kept the goals down at both ends. Darlo do know how to play and will stay up this season for Todd is no mug. He has even got Gall scoring, the ex Imp enjoying the banter with the home end throughout the game. But Kovaks and Swaibu will perhaps be their toughest test this season and had magnificent matches respectively. As for Clark, the fans chanted the young manager in the making throughout. His style is infectious tactically astute and bold on the pitch, but modest, knowledgeable and media savvy off it. Press conferences are of course easier with a 3-0 win, yet his humour and responses suggest he can talk the talk and walk the walk. In response to Horty enquiring as to whether the managers job is part of the game plan he wittily replied:
“I`m a young hungry and up and coming manager.”
Sounds good to us Simon and thanks, those first 48 hours have led to the best day at Sincil Bank for a very very very long time. My son is in love with the whole football experience again along with every Passionista in the Stacey West. Doubtless there will be a few more next time when word of this spreads.
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