Views from Joseph Lovett after Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Grimsby Town: “Well, that wasn’t great was it. If you were told one team would be fighting for promotion and one was one of the favourites for relegation you’d have mixed up the teams.
First of all credit to Grimsby, they played some nice football in patches and fully deserved all the points. Fortunately for us, they were very wasteful in front of goal and we (Bostwick in particular) made some great blocks. They exploited the space we have them very well and at times I was waiting for them to score another. Grimsby were far more up for the game and won most 2nd balls. Thankfully we were given a dubious penalty and it was tucked away with precision by Akinde. McKeown didn’t have much else to do other than pluck some simple crosses out.
We, on the other hand, were pretty dire apart from maybe the centre of defence. We wasted set pieces, couldn’t string three passes together or cross. Too many players had a poor game. Really didn’t think the formation worked. We had no cohesion and a mixture of constant poor passing meant we were always going to struggle. We looked very exposed down the flanks, particularly down the left. If we’re playing Toffolo we need 5 at the back to give him more support.
Grimsby also has lots of space in front of our defence. Although Bostwick was my man of the match I’d rather see him in midfield as the enforcer. Anderson and Andrade disappointed me, too often they were trying and failing to take on too many men.
The spine of our team, although technically very good (though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise on this showing) are very slow and that shows. A game where we perhaps missed Woodyard?
I heard a lot of people saying that Akinde was poor today. I’m not saying he played well, but I think it’s a harsh criticism. Currently, we’re not playing to his strengths. He doesn’t want to run the channel or flick all the crosses on for everyone. He’s a finisher.
Yet despite not being at our best, we still came away with a point. Moreover, we’re still on for an unbeaten season.”
More views from the Match Thread:
Rasenimp: “No one has won all three games which is a mark of what the division is like. It’s a shame that the game we didn’t turn up to was them lot but we’re still very much going to be alright. And we didn’t lose the game.”
Gaz_Imp: “Thought until Grimsby scored the game was quite even, we actually had some control, but was all in our third or the middle third without probing. I’d rather play direct than tappy stuff at the back, got to play it in the right areas.
But then after they scored, we dropped a level, which is unlike us, and they gained 2 or 3. In fact, they completely outplayed at times if truth be told. Was especially surprised we did not come out better after halftime. All felt very unlike us under DC. Particularly surprised we seemed to accept the draw last 10.
A soft pen ultimately saved us though and we got a point without playing well.
Said in my prediction for the 11 Bostwick needs to be in centre mid, and I think he will always need to be if we play 2 in there, a lot of clubs flood the midfield in league 2. He was our best player by some distance.
I see questions being asked of Freck and Akinde. Quite right to be honest, they are our big names and we know they are capable of more.
Still, 7 from 9 is a good start.”
Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!
"They played some nice football in patches and fully deserved all the points.":https://t.co/hK9JWzMRmQ#GTFC #ImpsAsOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 20, 2018
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/1822709144431989
