Spoiler alert: this won't make for good reading. Lincoln weren't very good.
Today, was in all honesty a shambles. One of the most frustrating games I've witnessed under the Cowleys. The first half was the most one sided affairs under the Cowleys I've seen since the second half against Arsenal. Partly because we were terrible, but also because of how good Crewe were going forward. They didn't look great in defence, unfortunately we rarely threatened.
Crewe wanted it so much more than us and were full of running. They looked fit, won all the second balls and constantly found large pockets of space. In contrast, we were sluggish and players were shying away from the battle. Our midfield was none existent, overwhelmed through out and seemed to spend the game running through treacle. They pressed us high up the pitch and we couldn't cope. It resulted in us lumping the ball forward to Akinde, who had no support. I thought the big man did fairly well considering the awful service he was provided. Yet remarkably we went in at half time at 0 0 mainly due to some decent last ditch defending.
Making it to second half, the fans were thinkig
the Cowleys will give them a good talking to and make some tweaks. What ever plan we had went out the window when we conceeded a goal 2 minutes into the second half. Personally thought Botswick (?) was being held, and the header seemed to bamboozle Vickers who let the ball drop in. We can't complain though Crewe hugely deserved it.
Second half continued to be an absolute shit storm conducted by the man in the middle, who seemed to have little knowledge of how football was played. His series of questionable decisions confused both sets of fans and set up a pantomime for the second half. For their second goal our team seem to part like the black sea for moses and allow their man to run through. Eventually a shot was half blocked and found its way in the corner. Vickers complained to the linesmen, not sure why unless their player tapped it in at the back post.
Despite being in complete control Crewe looked to start bottling it when we scored late from a rare good move from Lincoln. However, they masterfully took 4 minutes out of the game using gamesmenship. No complaints though the best team won. Throughout the second half I was thinking green could have been useful here. Critical transfer window coming up where we must strengthen. Just to add insult to injury, my man of the match, Vickers still seems to be struggling with injury. Can't see the Cowleys ever giving a team the Christmas off again after that performance.
Very few positives to pull out of that other than both MK Dons and Colchester losing meaning we will be top in the new year. I guess we can can put this down as a bad day, or maybe try and sell it as the kick up the rear we needed. Sigh. Where is my beer?