Following Wednesday night’s 2-0 win at home against Sunderland in the 1st Leg of the League One Play-Off Semi-Final, I asked the Vital Lincoln City members what three things they learned from the match.
You can discuss what has been said in this article HERE, as well as many other topics on our 100% Imps forum! We have also published a Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz, which can be found just below the three things. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
Here’s what cherryexile said:
1. The result matters more than the performance.
Who cares if Brennan Johnson turns his back on a blasted upfield clearance and it hits him on the hand, bounces neatly in front of the empty goal, and leaves him with the easiest goal he will ever score? It wasn’t pretty. It was against the run of play. Sunderland had been dominantly pushing for an equalizer just before. The only part of that that matters is the 2-0 scoreline. For most of the season Imps fans have consoled themselves with the quality of performance over result when things haven’t gone right, or justifiably pointed to injuries and COVID as reasons for losses. None of that matters anymore. It is just about scoring more goals than the opposition.
2. Sunderland aren’t very clear about how to win.
McGready is their best player. Wyke is a brute who cheats, but bullies himself into positions where he can damage the opposition They have some good players, but they are regularly played out of position and some good players who are injured. Burge isn’t a bad player because of one charged-down clearance. However, what this adds up to is a group of expensive individuals who don’t come together as a whole under a clear and consistent plan. Individual brilliance Sunderland have, but if it doesn’t prick the opposition balloon there isn’t enough underneath to wear down a good side with minerals.
3. Lincoln want it.
To a man on Wednesday, the Lincoln team worked their petite little booties off. They worked them off for each other. They worked them off for MAP. They worked them off for the fans. Those in the ground and those watching virtually and vicariously from afar. They know how important this is to their careers. They don’t want to let the team down. They want to put themselves in the shop window. But I also think (hope and believe) that there is 60 years of hurt represented in the memories of fans, of fathers of fans and grandfathers of fans that have passed on the oral history of Lincoln City the Second Division stalwarts of the post-war era. The so near, but still so far, of the Murphy era (twice). The pain of 6 failed play-off failures. The history of a club. All of it is wrapped up in WANT. Forget the ‘work in progress’, the ‘ahead of the plan’, ‘done well to get this far’, ‘it has been a good year whatever happens’; everyone involved in the club cares, wants it (secretly, quietly, tentatively or otherwise) and the players demonstrated that. Throwing themselves in the way. Getting back. Taking punishment and getting up again. Believing and fighting. Lincoln want it more than Sunderland.
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz below:
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!
Lincoln City 2-0 Sunderland:
Three Things We Learned:https://t.co/cVzJWRnK6i#ImpsAsOne #SAFC #HawayTheLads
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) May 22, 2021
