The murmurings of discontent got louder at Sincil Bank yesterday after Lincoln City turned in another ineffective display against struggling Macclesfield.
And in front of their lowest League gate of the season, it seems the Imps supporters are now voting with their feet.
Without a home win since late September, but buoyed by a spirited display at high-flying Northampton last week, there was real hope among the home faithful that this could be the day Keith Alexander?s men would turn the corner.
Indeed, the corner was turned, but the Imps then proceeded to stumble straight down a blind alley as they gifted their opposition another late goal as they contrived to throw away yet another lead.
It says something for the soft under-belly of this Imps side that for the ninth time this season, they have failed to win a match after taking the lead.
And conceding late goals is becoming something of an addiction for City, who don?t seem able to concentrate fully on their game for the whole 90 minutes, a scenario that must be a huge worry for Alexander.
But at least the Imps boss has finally come to his senses after watching another episode of tedium from his players.
?We?re having a bit of a poor spell,? was his finally-tuned assessment after seeing his side claim another solitary point in a 2-2 draw ? City?s 10th stalemate in 20 outings.
?Some of our passing at times left a lot to be desired, but that?s what happens when you?re struggling,? Alexander continued.
?I thought we did better in the second-half and we always looked like getting something out of the game.?
Opposite number Brian Horton didn?t agree though, commenting: ?Lincoln looked like they were never going to score, but then a free-kick decision went their way.
?We were only denied a win because their keeper made two wonderful saves.?
And yes, if it wasn?t for Alan Marriott?s brilliant late save from Jon Parkin?s late effort ? and wouldn?t that have been ironic if he had scored? ? then the Imps would have been sunk.
In fairness, Macclesfield dominated the first-half, looking like a side riding high in the table, rather than one fighting for scraps among the division?s dead men.
Both Andrew Teague and Clyde Wijnhard went close for the Silkmen as City seemed content to treat the game like a practice ground kickabout.
But Derek Asamoah then showed again why the word ?striker? should be taken off his CV when blazing a shot wide of the target with visiting keeper Alan Fettis all at sea.
And with strike partners Richard Logan and Gary Birch showing as much purpose as a pair of retired greyhounds, the need for new blood up front is now more apparent than ever before.
Oh, how the faithful would have loved to have seen Parkin bedecked in the red-and-white stripes rather than the blue of the Silkmen.
The powerhouse proved a real handful for centre-backs Paul Morgan and Jamie McCombe, and Alexander has to make his signing in January a priority.
But it was Parkin?s teammate Wijnhard who broke the deadlock. Striding onto Danny Whitaker?s pass, the on-loan Dutchman cut a swathe through the Imps defence before unleashing a shot that nestled in the bottom corner of Marriott?s net.
After the break, City were lucky not to fall further behind, with the linesman?s flag coming to their rescue as Wijnhard?s goal was disallowed.
But credit at least must go to Alexander?s band of merry men as they upped the ante, with Logan heading wide and Asamoah nodding over when well placed.
Birch than warmed the palms of Fettis before City finally restored parity. Scott Kerr won a free-kick just outside the Silkmen?s box after being felled by Alan Navarro.
Up stepped Dean Keates who cracked a ball into the visitors? box and there was Gareth McAuley to deftly flick the ball past the bemused Fettis.
Eight minutes later and Nat Brown, who again displayed a woeful misunderstanding of the midfielder?s role, cracked home a superb shot from all of 35 yards to send City into an undeserved lead.
Brown?s seven goals from midfield cannot be frowned upon, but he stills looks out of his depth in this more central role.
But inevitably, City decided it was time to get their heads down again for a little nap as they gifted Navarro all the time and space he needed in their own back yard.
The former Tranmere midfielder was left all on his own just outside the six-yard box and he drilled a shot goalwards only for the ball to rebound off a post to the waiting Teague who had the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net.
Panic then set in amongst the Imps? players, with Macclesfield pressing the ?all-out attack? button, and they would have won it but for more Marriott heroics at the death.
And Alexander summed up the feeling of the fans by stating: ?The crowd are getting anxious…?
Not half! After three near misses this season is rapidly turning into a big disappointment and one only has to look at all the City messageboards to see that the fans are unhappy.
And if there isn?t a spending spree in January then we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of a fourth successive play-off spot. So get your chequebook out, Keith…
