26/27 March Match Thread

[K-Win]

Most games have survived the international break, happily.

We've got a tough trip to Shrewsbury who have claimed some notable scalps recently. The Shrews' results have been built mainly on a miserly defence. For us, the Cowley's have had a rare full week to prepare and everyone associated with the club is suddenly full of optimism after last week's comeback win. I'd love a win but Shrewsbury's impressive run makes it a 1-1 forecast for me.

 

[Luke Imp]

The latest casualty for us is Adam Jackson who tested positive for Covid on Monday.

Anderson seems to have come through 90 minutes of a midweek friendly game unscathed, which is a positive but on top of Jackson, we have no Brennan Johnson who's on international duty and no Sanders, Walsh, Grant or Hopper either.

Scully and Eyoma will come in for Johnson and Jackson I'm guessing.

The team pretty much picks itself.

Palmer

Poole
Montsma
Eyoma
Bramall

Bridcutt
McGrandles
Edun

Rogers
Morton
Scully

We're in the territory of needing to win games now after our dip in form if we still harbour hopes of going up automatically, which is unlikely but we're still in the hunt.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

After going 2 down within 5 minutes at Gillingham last weekend you could have expected the teams heads to drop given our form has fell off a cliff however they fought back for a draw so hopefully the tide maybe turning. Sims has gone back to Southampton to try and sort his leg problem out and Smith is away on International duty. Hopefully Bostock will be available and AB has had a full week of training to boot. MK are probably starting to show the form that was expected from the start of the season, a bit like Oxford’s late bloomers, I’m hoping it’s not the same result or performance though. It should be called the longevity derby given Lewington and Coppinger go head to head again.

 

[Gassy]

We’re going to get hammered.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Away to Blackpool, a tough ask. Our most solid CB, Opoku serves the first of a two match ban. Not good in what is a wobbly (to say the least) back line. Jephcott played for Wales under 21 today, though there is speculation he will be on the bench. Ex-Blackpool player Hardie I am sure will be keen to start and do well. Niall Ennis is on fire.

 

[Guernica]

Uh oh, looks like Covid has affected more than Adam Jackson, we really can't be losing any more players, this is madness!

 

[Luke Imp]

Ffs, now Morton out with Covid. Down to, er, no strikers.

Only 5 subs, two are U18’s and only really Jones has got any decent game time this season.

 

[Guernica]

Ffs, now Morton out with Covid. Down to, er, no strikers.

Only 5 subs, two are U18’s and only really Jones has got any decent game time this season.

Whilst of course it's a disrupted season, i've never known an Imps season like this, not been able to have a full squad all season and when we've missed key players, it has never been an isolated situation but 3 or 4 out at least and medium to long-term.

 

[Luke Imp]

Barmy isn’t it? We’ve probably had worse seasons for injuries (I can remember one under Sutton but we had a bigger squad then) but for me it’s who’s been injured at various stages. I bet we’ve only been able to field our strongest XI 7 or 8 times this season, if that.

Going to be a hell of an effort to win tonight with 6 of the starting 11 out.

 

[GeneralLee]

Barmy isn’t it? We’ve probably had worse seasons for injuries (I can remember one under Sutton but we had a bigger squad then) but for me it’s who’s been injured at various stages. I bet we’ve only been able to field our strongest XI 7 or 8 times this season, if that.

Going to be a hell of an effort to win tonight with 6 of the starting 11 out.

We’ll no doubt do our very best to help you out I’m sure.

 

[Guernica]

So we're without 2 due to positive covid tests and we're playing players who are showing symptoms but did not test positive. If I heard MA right, this does not sound good.

 

[Guernica]

Bridcutt now injured, sorry but fuck off. Injuries are ruining us. Gutted.

 

[Guernica]

Oxford 1 - 1 Imps

Started and ended the half well with the home side dominating the middle.

Losing Bridcutt is just so deflating.

Hanson produced a shocking challenge on Anderson, deliberately intended to hurt him, nowhere near the ball which came minutes after their keeper also did the same to Harry.

Plugging away considering, without a striker we're struggling to keep the ball up top and without Walsh and Jackson looking shaky at the back especially from set pieces.

Will be delighted to take a point and no further injuries.

 

[GeneralLee]

Oxford 1 - 1 Imps

Started and ended the half well with the home side dominating the middle.

Losing Bridcutt is just so deflating.

Hanson produced a shocking challenge on Anderson, deliberately intended to hurt him, nowhere near the ball which came minutes after their keeper also did the same to Harry.

Plugging away considering, without a striker we're struggling to keep the ball up top and without Walsh and Jackson looking shaky at the back especially from set pieces.

Will be delighted to take a point and no further injuries.

I didn’t like that Hanson challenge. We really aren’t a side known for that. He’s a little bit of a strange player. Signed allegedly by the owner. Doesn’t suit out system. Barely players and nobody knows his position. He’s never played left back in his life and I would gather there is a now a good chance he’ll either be subbed for risk of being sent off, or he’ll be sent off.

 

[Guernica]

I didn’t like that Hanson challenge. We really aren’t a side known for that. He’s a little bit of a strange player. Signed allegedly by the owner. Doesn’t suit out system. Barely players and nobody knows his position. He’s never played left back in his life and I would gather there is a now a good chance he’ll either be subbed for risk of being sent off, or he’ll be sent off.

Cowards challenge and it's those challenges that can do the damage with the amount of ligaments around that area.

 

[Guernica]

Conceded such a stupid goal, got to make teams earn it. I can't see us getting back into it.

Literally nothing on the bench to help out either.

 

[Guernica]

FT: Oxford 2 - 1 Imps

So frustrating, gave away a horror goal - so needless and our passing and final balls were shocking in that second half. Without a striker we were unable to hold the ball up and Oxford were able to bring on Winnall which shows the difference. Scully to be fair worked his nuts off against 2 6ft odd centre halfs.

Don't expect to see Bridcutt again this season which is a blow and a bit worrying that we had players playing with Covid symptoms. Literally the worst time of the season for that to happen when we have so many injured anyway. Jones was a passenger when he came on, not looked half the player he was before contracting Covid. No-one on the bench to change things.

Just so frustrating, injuries have killed our season.

 

[Marked Ox]

A relief. Deserved that win and finally got a bit of luck with the 1st goal but balanced out as we didn't get that penalty*.

James Henry did well for the 2nd. And we finally win on Sky.

Hopefully Josh Ruffels' injury isn't too bad.

*Don't blame the officials as it looked as though their views were blocked by other players.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Frustrating and definitely accepted we won't be finishing in the playoffs sadly. Gutted after such a bright start. I don't like banging on about injuries but it really is one after the other. I think that leaves us with:
1)Alex Palmer
2)Cohen Bramall
3)Lewis Montsma
4)Tayo Edun
5)Regan Poole
6)TJ Eyoma
7)James Jones
8)Connor McGrandles
9)Harry Anderson
10)Theo Archibald
11)Ramirez Howarth
12)Anthony Scully
13)Morgan Rogers
Sam Long (U18)
Sean Roughan (U18)

Out on Loan
Ethan Ross
Max Melbourne
Zack Elbouzedi

Injured
Joe Walsh
Liam Bridcutt
Jorge Grant
Max Sanders
Tom Hopper

COVID
Adam Jackson
Callum Morton

International Duty
Brennan Johnson

 

[Luke Imp]

I think we deserve a small pat on the back for actually playing the game. We could've quite easily tried to postpone tonight with players also apparently returning negative results despite showing symptoms.

So deflating that the season will go the way it's going through no real fault of our own, especially at the business end of the season. We've been so good and consistent for most of it and had deservedly been in the top two for the most part. Feels like it's going to be a missed opportunity for us. Disappointing.

 

[GeneralLee]

Brilliant win. A strange second half from Lincoln - they just looked (understandably) shattered.

Deserved the win in the end.

Tayo Edun and Morgan Rogers are brilliant. Real catalysts.

 

[eric read]

Deserved win after going behind early.

Lincoln are not the only team to have a lot of injuries. We were devastated by injuries earlier in the season, hence why we've been playing catch up ever since. And I don't think we've had a fully fit squad for more than two or three games all season.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Well done Oxford. Going to be interesting how it pans out tbis season. Will Charlton put together some wins, will Blackpool carry on their good form, will Oxford carry on the momentum.

I do think top 2 will be Hull and Sunderland. Playoffs is anyones guess bar Posh.

 

[Marked Ox]

Well done Oxford. Going to be interesting how it pans out tbis season. Will Charlton put together some wins, will Blackpool carry on their good form, will Oxford carry on the momentum.

I do think top 2 will be Hull and Sunderland. Playoffs is anyones guess bar Posh.

Agree on Hull and Sunderland. I think Blackpool will make the play offs joining Peterborough but after that I don't know. It does come across as who will screw it up less than the others (bar Blackpool) to qualify rather who will win their way into the play offs.

We don't have enough to make it, like you, due to injuries and we are just too inconsistent/not good enough when it matters. Losing Marcus McGuane for the season was a massive blow as he gave our midfield so many more options and we keep losing the likes of Josh Ruffels, James Henry & Sam Long, for at least a month at a time, stopping continuity.

 

[SuffolkBlue]

Away to Wigan. Apparently Cook has been disappointed with the players fitness levels in training this week so it’ll be interesting to see how our energy levels are. Loads of players will be either playing for a new contract or already know they’ll be off in the summer. Interesting times. We won’t score more than 1 so I’ll say 1-1

 

[K-Win]

Cook can be pretty ruthless when he first comes into a club. We had almost our entire squad at the end of their contracts when he came in and he pretty much shipped them all out, with Adam Webster as the only exception I think. He would have kept Jed Wallace no doubt, but he was already on his way to Wolves. The players that he brought in for the new season were superior in every position to the ones he replaced, and he didn't break the bank doing it. I think Christian Burgess may have been our most expensive signing and he didn't cost much.

I think this is the first time in a while that he's come into a club and needed to get a song out of existing players. He's got a particular style of playing and if he doesn't have the right players the system just won't work properly. My guess is that any players coming to the end of their contracts should probably start looking elsewhere now as he's likely to want to clear the decks in the summer.

 

[K-Win]

Possibly our best half of the season. A pretty incredible turnaround by the Cowleys so far.

 

[EricSabin]

Killer

 

[GFC4EVA]

Great point at Hull, rode our luck a little and should have scored with the last kick of the game with samuel hitting the post.

Massive game v wigan on wednesday

 

[woburn]

What's happened to Doncaster? Professional display by us, couple of good saves by their keeper, they just looked very...lethargic, can't see them in the play offs based on that today, we are moving in the right direction and are perhaps now showing what we are capable of.