Views from Chesterimp after last night’s 4-1 defeat away at Blackburn Rovers in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup: “Would expect the starting line up on Saturday to revert to that which started against County, injuries etc permitting.
While Blackburn made 6 changes themselves, it was still clearly a strong Championship line up and that class showed in the second half when we got punished for mistakes.
Positives are the blooding of several squad players – Luque skilful and lively, still a lot to learn as he showed when getting robbed for their second, but he provided most of our best moments of the night and capped a good debut with a fine goal to remember it by; Crookes looked very nervous early on, but settled better in the second half and can be satisfied with his effort; doesn’t look like CB cover to me though, unless as a 3. Slocombe made a couple of good saves, tidy overall, distribution variable, his shot-stopping was tested more than Smith’s has been over several matches. Can’t be faulted for any of the goals, nor did he have any ‘moments’. Chapman now looks a veteran by comparison – another night of education which will serve him well.
Negatives were Rheady more antics than product although when he did win balls Luque, in particular, read them well, that’s how the goal was scored. He’s clearly second best to Akinde now, who combines mobility with strength and we’re learning to play to his strengths. Eardley did well defensively against a very good winger, but his distribution is still well short of last season’s high standards, is he simply in a trough or is it an indication of something more fundamental?
Now need to focus on Saturday and coming back from that with a result, we’re due one down there. Freck and the beast, refreshed from a night on the bench or sofa, should help and I think overall the Cowleys got selection right tonight and its a positive despite the result.”
More views from the Match Thread:
berksimps: “Good lesson for everyone, this difference in class was evident second half. Mistakes are punished, attacking involves multiple numbers and quality finishing is paramount.
Exeter now becomes the focus.”
hulloutpost: “Didn’t sound like there were any injuries, also no disciplinary issues. Defeat aside quite a few positives in terms of experience, learning, fitness and match sharpness for the fringe players. My only slight concern is that it sounded like Eardley and in particular, Anderson put in a big shift effort wise down the right so I hope they get plenty of recovery time ahead of Saturday.”
"Quite a few positives in terms of experience, learning, fitness and match sharpness.":https://t.co/M5EtWWOuBp#Blackburn #Rovers #ImpAsOne
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 29, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/1835097299859840
Ewood Park
Carabao Cup
28/08/2018 8:45 pm
Attendance: 5211
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
| Blackburn Rovers | Lincoln City | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuttall 5', Graham 50', Downing 61', Palmer 77' | Luque 28' | ||||||
| Raya | Slocombe | ||||||
| Nyambe | O'Connor | 63' | |||||
| Rothwell | 60' | Shackell | |||||
| Graham | 72' | Rhead | 63' | ||||
| Caddis | Green | ||||||
| Bell | Chapman | ||||||
| Nuttall | Wilson | ||||||
| Downing | Luque | 63' | |||||
| Travis | 80' | Crookes | |||||
| Conway | Eardley | ||||||
| Grayson | Anderson | ||||||
Substitutes |
|||||||
| Leutwiler | Smith | ||||||
| Smallwood | Gordon | ||||||
| Lenihan | Pett | 63' | |||||
| Tomlinson | Frecklington | ||||||
| Bennett | Andrade | 63' | |||||
| Butterworth | Toffolo | ||||||
| Palmer | Akinde | 63' | |||||
Game Statistics |
||
| 16 | Goal attempts | 6 |
| 7 | On Target | 2 |
| 7 | Corners | 3 |
| 9 | Fouls | 11 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 59 | % | 41 |