Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home against Northampton Town, we asked our members what three things they learned from the match.
Here’s what Scotimp said:
1. That referees are now coming to Lincoln with preconceptions…
…and that is causing problems with the way they run the game. The size of the Sincil Bank crowd is intimidating not only for visiting players and supporters, but also for inexperienced referees who in the main are used to 2,000 at Crawley and the Subbuteo Stadium at Forest Green. They set out not to be influenced by baying Imps and have also been told a few things by other referees about Lincoln’s dark arts. The net result? They fail to referee the game properly.
2. That we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot…
…by having players sent off needlessly. Lincoln have only 41 yellow cards to their name, which is the fourth best record in League Two; however, they have five red cards, the third worst behind Stevenage (9) and Grimsby (7). All five could have been avoided, and all five have cost us points: a draw at home to a poor Cambridge side (Chapman), a defeat at home to an even poorer Crawley Town (Frecklington), the loss of a two-goal lead at Swindon (Andrade and Shackell) and now failing to beat Northampton, who were absolute rubbish (Anderson). To save you having to do the maths, that is nine points we could have had with a full complement of players. It is all very well Danny saying how hard the remaining players fought, but let’s try to avoid stupid red cards in the first place.
3. That there will be lots of twists and a few turns before May is here…
…as evidenced by the fact that Saturday’s draw at home to a poor side actually saw Lincoln extend their lead at the top of League Two. Mansfield probably did not expect to lose on the Newport quagmire, FGR certainly expected three points at home to Notts County, and MK Dons lost for the seventh time in ten games. With fifteen games remaining, there will be at least thirty unexpected results in League Two. But it is in our hands: fifteen wins will bring the title to SB.
"Referees are now coming to Lincoln with preconceptions.":https://t.co/d1zbWu1xu0#ImpsAsOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) February 12, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2057235774312657
