Lincoln City v Macclesfield Town

[GodsGift]

I've got a lot of time for Macc and I hope, after Saturday, they get enough points to stay up. I've got a lot of time for Sol Campbell as well taking this job.

As for us, if we win this that'll be us effectively promoted, albeit not mathematically. Doing it next week in front of 5/6k at MK would be pretty special...

Anyway, before the game the club intend to remember both Keith Alexander and Ricky Butcher, with members of their family being invited to attend.

 

[Davidimp]

Nice touch that.
Keith's younger two children are both grown up now, his youngest Jenny who's 18 now tweeted recently that she was at the point where she spent more of life without her dad than with him, so sad .

 

[Imp in Branston]

I have a bit of a soft spot for Macc, especially with the tragedy of losing both Keith and Butch which makes the link between the clubs quite strong.

After Saturday, I hope they manage to get out of the mire and avoid the dreaded drop, it would be a big blow for them going down again so soon after forging themselves back into the FL.

 

[Luke Imp]

Yep, there's definitely been a Lincoln/Macc love-in for a few years now.

Last time they were at SB in 2017, they watch us win the league/get promoted but they're 2 or 3 games too early on the latter!

We've decided to keep a few clean sheets now and haven't conceded from open play in the last 7 games.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

What happens to the rule of us following you when you go up and we go down? Does that mean next season we're guaranteed promotion back up? Will we go up and you go down to ensure we don't spend more than a year apart? Maybe the essence of reality will crumble? I think to be safe and make sure the universe doesnt cease to exist you should give us the 3 points...

We've decided to keep a few clean sheets now and haven't conceded from open play in the last 7 games.

Well we've decided to stop playing Maycock and Danny Whitaker is (sort of) back, so there.

 

[The_Boss]

Yep who'd have thought there'd be such a bromance between the clubs after the famous battle of the moss back in 97/98.

I've put Lincoln on my last man standing so would be more than happy to go out this week, though i sadly think i'll be a small step closer (along with the other 100 or so people who will back Lincoln this week) to the big cash prize!

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Can we at least negotiate to you only winning by 1 goal? Goal difference might prove important to us abd a thumping wouldn't be good for morale.

We're pretty good at conceding penalties and really good at conceding from set pieces for anyone looking for a goalscorer bet.

 

[Luke Imp]

That bodes well because at the last check, we had won the most penalties and scored the most from corners.

 

[Davidimp]

The ref on Saturday is Brett Huxtable, you'll be fine .
Did our game at Port Vale our skipper got cleaned out by the Vale keeper no pen given and hasn't been the same player since.

 

[Imp in Branston]

The ref on Saturday is Brett Huxtable, you'll be fine .
Did our game at Port Vale our skipper got cleaned out by the Vale keeper no pen given and hasn't been the same player since.

Brett Feckin Huxtable, well that's fooked it on Saturday then! I think he has the third worse points rating out of all the refs witnessed this season (which speaks volumes).

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

That bodes well because at the last check, we had won the most penalties and scored the most from corners.

I'd say my confidence had dropped further, but i already had absolutely 0 expectations.

Think 12 of our last 20 conceded were from set pieces or pens, several more from crosses in open play.

 

[Blue Lion]

Some of our players apparently haven't been paid again. Three months in a row now ffs. Not ideal preparation before a match against the league leaders where team spirit alone could be the difference between getting a positive result and getting thrashed.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

A positive result at this point is probably only losing 2-0.

 

[Blue Lion]

No Smith today so our attack is looking very lightweight. I can see Wilson becoming completely isolated and the midfield getting overrun. I wonder whether this game would have suited a more physical, defence minded midfielder like Maycock (or dare I say it, Ntambwe) in place of Cole or Stephens.

Safe to say I'm not confident at all.

 

[Blue Lion]

Interesting.... I'd still 100% take a point from here

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Wasn't pretty and we did not play well but I'll absolutely take that.

 

[Imp in Branston]

Wasn't pretty and we did not play well but I'll absolutely take that.

The Macc keeper played really well and while we were definitely poor for large parts, you sometimes have to give credit to the opposition. I thought Macc were worthy of a point as we ran out of ideas. If you keep on battling like that for the rest of the season, you may well get out of the mess at the bottom.

 

[wangle]

At half time we should have 2 or 3 ahead, but for another unbelievable performance from the Macc keeper. Andrade will be very disappointed with his attempted header leading to the Macc goal. Second half we were very poor and Macc deserved thier point.

 

[Davidimp]

Should have been 3 up before you scored and your keeper made a couple of worldies but second half we started OK again but just ran out of ideas the longer it went on, the back pass and a shot from McCartan that went narrowly wide being our best chances.
Point nearer to promotion.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

O'hara has had a lot of man of the match performances this season and made a lot of top class saves. Lincoln looked very good first half with some lovely one touch passing football around our box, and we were always going to need a slice of luck to get a goal. 2nd half we defended a bit better but were very poor with what little possession we had.

Great point but need wins now and have to win next Saturday.

 

[Luke Imp]

Overriding feeling of disappointment with the second half today. We've really struggled to break down sides at SB this season at times.

First 20 minutes or so were excellent. Macclesfield couldn't string any passes together and we were winning the ball back quicker than in a long time.

They got a small foothold into the game prior to their goal but it still felt against the run of play. They score, we continue to be pretty dominant and Postman Eardley delivers again.

Andrade's early penalty shout looked one to me. I mean, why, four yards from goal on his strong foot, is he going to go to ground? And the ref not booking their player for the trip on him that led to our goal?!

Second half was far too slow. Ball wasn't being pinged into anyone at any great pace, players taking too many touches and a general lethargy about the team. That said, Macc were playing with a back 6 at times and making it difficult.

Thought we would have seen Rhead on a little earlier. We weren't getting any joy down the wings, we couldn't play through them so Plan C would have been to try and go over them.

Macclesfield were quite obviously short on quality but if you're that, you need a game plan and you need players to put a shift in and I thought they did. You compare that to, say, Notts County who arguably have the better players but came to us early in the season and had nothing about them. At least today you could see what Macc were doing or trying to do, even if sometimes it didn't quite come off. They had just enough threat on the counter attack to stop us going all out but more 'runners' than anything.

Macc probably deserved a point though. They were better defensively than we were from an attacking point of view.

 

[Davidimp]

O'hara has had a lot of man of the match performances this season and made a lot of top class saves. Lincoln looked very good first half with some lovely one touch passing football around our box, and we were always going to need a slice of luck to get a goal. 2nd half we defended a bit better but were very poor with what little possession we had.

Great point but need wins now and have to win next Saturday.

Ta for the compliments on our footy, you'll be in trouble for putting stuff like that lol