Following the 1-1 draw at home against Milton Keynes Dons in League One, I asked the Vital Lincoln City members what three things they learnt from the match.
Prior to the match, we published a quiz about the last time the two sides met at Sincil Bank, which can be found HERE, or at the bottom of the page!
Here’s what sedgleyimp said (article discussion link):
1. It might not be overly enthralling between now and the end of the season, but all things considered I think most would be pretty happy with where we are and how we have set out our stall. Games involving Lincoln don’t get on first thing on any highlights show. We have become a team who can stifle opponents and be bloody difficult to beat. That leads us to play on the counter-attack irrespective of it being home or away and having little regard for the oppositions abilities. It doesn’t lead to the greatest spectacles over 90 minutes but the reality of this season is that it is very much a bedding in one for our rookie coach. It’s his first real go at the main job and as we see all too often, if you lose games you lose your job. We have lost 7 games out of 32 in the League this season. Yes, we have only won 8, but from a starting point of making sure you don’t lose we are on a 75% success rate for that in what is a very difficult and competitive division. When MK was appointed several thought it was the makings of a relegation season. Accepted that we are not as yet mathematically safe from the drop we still need only around 6 or 7 more points to get to the 47 or 48 point mark which should be more than enough. (based upon how many the current bottom teams have managed to this point coupled with games remaining). This season was all about stability and maintaining our position in League 1, not going all out and trying to outscore opponents and letting them in left right, and centre at the back. We’ll leave that kind of tactics to those propping up the table.
2. What’s the point of possession stats. Much has been made of us giving the opponents the majority of the ball. It was a clear tactic on Tuesday to let MK Dons have the ball whilst they undertook pretty passing triangles in their half of the pitch. 67% possession is I believe what they had. 90% of that was in their last 30 yards. I expect their goalkeeper has great passing stats as he taps it 5 yards to a defender then repeats. So there really is no need to get hung up on our 33% possession.
3. We do though need a ruthless streak in the team. The last two games should have been done and dusted before we allowed the opponents back into the games. MK Dons’ goal was one of those stick a leg out and watch it loop in that you can fall foul of if you don’t put teams away when you can. Perhaps the youthfulness of the side is causing this to a degree, but whilst we are still grounding out points as we are, perhaps we need to give the players that little bit of learning curve slack as it should hopefully benefit them and the team come August.
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!
– @LincolnCity_FC 1-1 @MKDonsFC: Three Things We Learnt:https://t.co/bqtuR3yWro#ImpsAsOne #WeAreImps #MKDons
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 4, 2023
