16 March Match Thread

[Tinnion's right foot]

So, it feels like the mighty imps needs a win tonight to stop the wheels completely falling off our season, and Gillingham are hardly the ideal opponents in that situation. We may well have Liam Bridcutt back tonight to shore up the midfield, and if he's up to speed that will be a big help. Morgan Rogers has pinged in worldies in the past two games but has done little else except take a touch too many, and Brennan Johnson has been fairly ineffectual; he hasn't even dived for a penalty since the last Gillingham game. We lost our mojo when Jorge Grant got injured, and he's going to be out for a while yet...

 

[Luke Imp]

I'm dreading this. We've not been the same since the Gillingham TV game (or was it Doncaster, I can't remember which was round they were?) and the last thing we need is a Steve Evans aerial bombardment.

Hopper will come in for Morton I imagine for some extra height and physicality, likewise Eyoma for Poole at RB. Edun back to LB and Bridcutt back in at the expense of Bramall.

Too reliant on individual brilliance at the minute than team chance creations from the first half of the season. Hopefully the return of Bridcutt will help that a little because he does allow our full backs to push on a little more.

Jackson will have to sit a game out soon because of his dodgy calf but if we can get him through tonight and Saturday then we have a free week, maybe even two if the Oxford game is postponed due to internationals.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Blackpool away for us tonight.
Surely our winning run must come to an end at some point and I think tonight.
A 1-1 draw for me which I would be pleased with.

 

[eric read]

I'm dreading this. We've not been the same since the Gillingham TV game (or was it Doncaster, I can't remember which was round they were?) and the last thing we need is a Steve Evans aerial bombardment.

Hopper will come in for Morton I imagine for some extra height and physicality, likewise Eyoma for Poole at RB. Edun back to LB and Bridcutt back in at the expense of Bramall.

Too reliant on individual brilliance at the minute than team chance creations from the first half of the season. Hopefully the return of Bridcutt will help that a little because he does allow our full backs to push on a little more.

Jackson will have to sit a game out soon because of his dodgy calf but if we can get him through tonight and Saturday then we have a free week, maybe even two if the Oxford game is postponed due to internationals.

Where has that come from? What internationals are you referring to, and has this happened before with your games?

 

[Luke Imp]

Where has that come from? What internationals are you referring to, and has this happened before with your games?

It was in our article when it was announced as a Sky game, which we were all surprised about being selected. It has been pencilled in for postponement since the start of the season.

At the beginning of the season we had Lewis, Elbouzedi, Johnson, Scully and Roughan in international squads but only Johnson, Scully and Roughan remain here.

Johnson's already been called up the Wales squad.

 

[eric read]

What nationality are Scully and Roughan? Are we talking full internationals, or Under 21s? I very much doubt Sky will be happy with losing their live game, and suspect behind the scenes pressure to play it.

As far as I'm concerned, not happy it's been selected for TV anyway, as we're crap whenever on Sky.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Expecting a defeat tonight even before losing 3 players to injury. Only hope I have is for a shithousery win

 

[codaplenty]

Ipswich home tonight and another test for the 'resurgent' Cods. After Barton was relieved of his position I spoke with a pal and said the manager who I would like to come in would be Paul Cook, he did very well at Wigan and comes over as a good guy
No more Paddy Madden, off the Stockport on a three and half year deal, six figure fee involved. I dont blame him, he's been a top journeyman pro and naturally wants to secure the best for his family -but he will be missed
Without doubt this signals a major overhaul of the Fleetwood squad in the Summer and unless I am reading this wrong ( which is quite possible ) indicates the permanent appointment of Simon Grayson/David Dunn
Expect to see the departures of Josh Morris and 1/2 others and more integration into the first team of our academy lads, overseeing all this this we have a superb Chairman in Andy Pilley
As for tonight expect it be a tight game with no more than a goal between the two - and its going to Fleetwood !

 

[PuB]

2-0 to us up at Lincoln after 20 minutes

What’s going on?

 

[Super_horns]

Lincoln struggling again at home?

 

[PuB]

Lincoln struggling again at home?

According to our commentators we could/should be 3 or 4 up.

 

[Guernica]

HT: Imps 0 - 2 Gills

Where's that mid-table thread

Fair play Gills, you know what you get - it's physical with balls going front to back and we haven't dealt with it. At least we're playing better than Saturday!

Two really poor pieces of defending and unlike the reverse fixture there's no Joe Walsh to mop up the bits and pieces. First goal from a long throw, didn't clear and punished with a simple header from 6 yards. Second long ball down the middle missed a 50/50 header, Akinde put it through for Dempsey. Should have had a third to be fair.

We've had most the ball and play but not done anything with it. Could have been 2 up inside 5 mins but like most of the half had lots of balls flash past the box, not tested Bonham.

Had to listen to Steve Evans constantly shout and bellow at the ref/team which isn't a pretty sight!

 

[PuB]

Having to listen to Evans’s foul mouth in the background in every game is really galling. No need for it, local radio have had to start warning listeners before the game starts that they might hear some ‘industrial language’.

 

[Guernica]

Having to listen to Evans’s foul mouth in the background in every game is really galling. No need for it, local radio have had to start warning listeners before the game starts that they might hear some ‘industrial language’.

We'd be here forever to discuss his faults but on that, not good optics especially for kids, like the annoying angry dad on the sidelines of kids football. It wins matches for him hence why some clubs put up with it.

 

[PuB]

Lincoln 0-3 Gills.

What’s happened? You guys looked great on tv not long ago

 

[Guernica]

FT Imps 0 - 3 Gills

I think it's safe to say season done for us.

Second half huffed and puffed, Oliver fortunate not to concede an own goal just after half time, Edun had a shot tipped on to the bar, a number of balls again across the box that went unpunished. Gillingham didn't particularly play in the second half but defended well. Sat deep, and their first touch in our box was a penalty - rightly so late on.

Evans cannot have any complaints over the referee - whilst not affecting the result, the sheer amount of fouls conceded by Gillingham was insane and lots of niggly kicking the ball away and time wasting went unpunished. Akinde a little fortuitous with a really poor challenge - it wasn't a challenge went clearly in on Palmer, pretty poor from him.

To top it off, Hopper went off with what looked like a hamstring injury, we were afforded the ability to field 2 strikers for 3 games - couldn't make it up.

What's gone wrong - injuries have played their part - since we played at Priestfield - we've been without Walsh, Bridcutt and Grant - our 3 best and most influential players in an already small squad - we just can't handle it and haven't found a way to overcome it. Grant for me is one of the best attacking CM's so much of our play goes through him. Add in Walsh and Bridcutt who provide us with defensive stability and we just look so vulnerable. Now losing Hopper is a season ender - a real workhorse.

Sunderland and Oxford away the next 2 I think

 

[GeneralLee]

What the hell has happened to Doncaster? They looked like bottom half/staving off relegation fodder (the last 10 minutes aside). The first game we played against Donny they were terrific. A real solid and disciplined defensive unit with a ruthlessness in attack with Taylor-Richards as the focal point. Darren Moore had them ticking and in my opinion they were the best side we had played this season.

Tonight was a completely different story. Defensively it was kamikaze football. I just assumed they’d eventually sort themselves out... But it just got worse.

Why isn’t Balcombe playing? He looked very solid in the first game, however the young lad in goal tonight looked far from brilliant. I’m genuinely staggered at the decline in performance from the first game. We were good, however we were made to look like world beaters at times!

 

[Marked Ox]

Good win for us, 3-0 over Donny.

Taylor breaking his non-scoring run could be massive and looked a different player after scoring. Pity Cam Brannagan couldn't do the same but it just wouldn't fall for him.

Brandon Barker had their right back on toast until he was subbed.

Donny's playing out from the back against our high press was suicidal and they got lucky not to concede before we scored.

 

[Reading-Gills]

Christ, how do Lincoln fans listen to those commentators every week. Absolutely insufferable.

Totally deserved victory.
After fallling for Lincoln's pathetic diving all game was good to see Johnson get booked. Lucky not to be sent off, considering his first half dive.

Great tackle by O'Keefe in the first minute set the tone for the game. Didn't think Akinde's challenge on the keeper was a foul at all. The ball was there to be won and he won it, keeper followed through on Akinde if anything.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

What the hell has happened to Doncaster? They looked like bottom half/staving off relegation fodder (the last 10 minutes aside). The first game we played against Donny they were terrific. A real solid and disciplined defensive unit with a ruthlessness in attack with Taylor-Richards as the focal point. Darren Moore had them ticking and in my opinion they were the best side we had played this season.

Tonight was a completely different story. Defensively it was kamikaze football. I just assumed they’d eventually sort themselves out... But it just got worse.

Why isn’t Balcombe playing? He looked very solid in the first game, however the young lad in goal tonight looked far from brilliant. I’m genuinely staggered at the decline in performance from the first game. We were good, however we were made to look like world beaters at times!

Where do I start. Darren Moore got us into the top four with games in hand by Christmas, the board more than backed him, given zero capital coming in we extended 2 loans at significant cost, agreed another and signed 2 expensive permanent contracts yet didn’t start any negotiations on those out of contract at the end of the season on Darren’s request. It turns out Darren had been sending his CV around and then started to talk to Sheffield Wednesday well before he left, turning up late for training and generally not giving a toss. He left, what does that say to those he signed and made promises to, what does it say to those (and there are a few) out of contract players? Add to that the ongoing injuries (apparently fitness training left a lot to be desired) and you have team in total disarray.
Oxford thoroughly deserved their win tonight however I felt you played far better in the reverse fixture than you did tonight. A half decent team would have caused you problems. Good luck for the rest of the season.

 

[Guernica]

Christ, how do Lincoln fans listen to those commentators every week. Absolutely insufferable.

Totally deserved victory.
After fallling for Lincoln's pathetic diving all game was good to see Johnson get booked. Lucky not to be sent off, considering his first half dive.

Great tackle by O'Keefe in the first minute set the tone for the game. Didn't think Akinde's challenge on the keeper was a foul at all. The ball was there to be won and he won it, keeper followed through on Akinde if anything.

Agree on the commentators a real controversial topic among Imps circles, although it was a struggle to hear them with Evans ranting and raving! As for the rest of your post, i'll leave it there, enjoy the 3 points.

 

[Reading-Gills]

Yep leave it there, because it's absolutely spot on.

Evans is loud? I couldn't hear him over Jonhson's screaming any time someone breathed on him.

 

[Railway Blue]

How many Chesterfield players will be furloughed after this weeks results?

 

[PuB]

How many Chesterfield players will be furloughed after this weeks results?

Now that’s a good question...

 

[codaplenty]

Another tremendous performance from Fleetwood, outfought Ipswich all over the pitch, every Fleetwood player gave 110% and defensive wise we really are a top side. Connolly magnificent in the middle and yet again young players Hill and Holgate top drawer.
When Barton was here Ged Garner never got a sniff, Grayson comes in and gives the lad a chance and he has taken it with both hands or should I say feet. Another really good game linking with Vassell ( MOM ) and scoring a very good goal. Its a shame this 'run' has come ( perhaps ) a little too late, as we are looking a really good side.
On the positive side I now feel we are safe from relegation, but thats an indication of how precarious this league can be, the drop off in form of sides like Doncaster and Lincoln is very surprising, equally the way Burton have picked themselves up and are doing is just great. Hope that Rochdale can put a run together and save league 1 status
A last word on Paul Cook, when he was manager at Wigan and we were playing them at home there was an incident when one of our players ( Ashley Hunter ) showed some tremendous skill down the wing and Cook applauded him
Tonight Jordan Rossiter, the glue in our defense was substituted after picking up an injury, coming off the pitch to fullsome applause from the Fleetwood contingent, Paul Cook was applauding as well -that is sportsmanship at its best, Ipswich fans, you may have a pretty ordinary side at the moment but a first class manager who I am sure will get you promoted

 

[Bartonyellow]

Blackpool away for us tonight.
Surely our winning run must come to an end at some point and I think tonight.
A 1-1 draw for me which I would be pleased with.

Available for Saturday nights lottery numbers on request.

 

[Gills4years]

Christ, how do Lincoln fans listen to those commentators every week. Absolutely insufferable.

Totally deserved victory.
After fallling for Lincoln's pathetic diving all game was good to see Johnson get booked. Lucky not to be sent off, considering his first half dive.

Great tackle by O'Keefe in the first minute set the tone for the game. Didn't think Akinde's challenge on the keeper was a foul at all. The ball was there to be won and he won it, keeper followed through on Akinde if anything.

Glad to hear Johnson went in to the book after his pathetic dying swan at Priestfield. Definitely separated from Tom Daley at birth.

 

[Railway Blue]

Available for Saturday nights lottery numbers on request.

Well done Burton. What Jimmy Floyd has done deserves the Manager of the Year award.

Are the play-offs too far away?

 

[Bobbin']

We're 6th

Sunderland Charlton play-off final will do.

 

[Agombar stool]

We're 6th

Sunderland Charlton play-off final will do.

What have you done with Matt Smith? Not even on your bench last night. How is DJ getting on?