Following Saturday’s 2-1 win away at Forest Green Rovers in Sky Bet League Two, we asked our members what three things they learned from the match.
Here’s what Gratzimp said:
1. Playing two up front, which is what fans on Vital have been crying out for ages works. JA said he works best when Rhead is on the pitch, and boy did he prove it. Switching now from our usual 1 up front formation back to a 4-4-2 will scupper plans that opponents have made to counter our perceived style of play. Plus, with both JA and Rheady on the pitch, it takes out more of the opponent’s defence leaving the likes of Andrade free to do his stuff.
2. We can now finally see out a game and manage it the way we want to. But only with sticking with the formation played against FGR. With 1 up front Akinde runs and runs, and therefore tires easily towards the end of the game leaving no threat up front, and therefore giving more work for the defence to do. The formation played yesterday enabled us to bring on subs that were more or less like for like instead of the subs, playing out of position. Notice a theme here?
3. Only negative really, or is it? Why bother bringing in loan signings if they’re not going to be used? I think it is to put pressure on those in the 1st 11 to ramp it up each game, and that is it, I don’t think they will be used in anger unless they absolutely have to be. Which is a shame because I would like to see what they can do. With the 4-4-2 yesterday there was a chance to use these loan players as they could slot in nicely to the given formation.
The next two home games are absolutely vital, I didn’t think in all honesty we would get anything at FGR, and had we played with just Akinde up top, I believe we wouldn’t have. Play the majority of the games remaining with 4-4-2 and injuries permitting, we could all be seeing us lift the title come May.
And here’s what PWould said:
1. Back to the old style Lincoln playing a high-intensity pressing game which worked from start to finish. O’Hara and O’Connor and Pett when he came on were unsung heroes for me. It is easy to get overrun in midfield playing against them.
2. Akinde was at times unplayable and forged an excellent partnership with Matt. Neither gave the FGR backline a minutes peace.
3. We were on the front foot despite the cruel and unfortunate early goal. Credit to the defence, particularly Shacks who organised the backline well against a good FGR team. We also had good width and Andrade and Harry both did well. Great to see Cooper getting the deserved derision from imps fans at the end.
"We were on the front foot despite the cruel and unfortunate early goal.":https://t.co/WH1kRTcWot#FGRFC #ImpsAsOne #EFL
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 5, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/VitalLincolnCity/posts/2087787497924151
