Luton v Lincoln

[That Fat Centre Half]

We've been brilliant. If Stech hadn't thrown both goals in his own net we would be 2 up and you would have to say it wouldn't flatter us on the balance of play even 10 vs 11. Lincoln even more direct and ugly than I remember.

Didn't see our red so can't comment. Thought the second yellow for them was harsh. Rhead is an embarrassment but I guess Hylton is no different so can't be too critical.

He was defo making up for not sending Rhead off I reckon, looked very harsh but he got his card out so quick.

 

[Davidimp]

Well if Rheady did the same ie throwing a punch then surely would have been sent off too?
What did he do?

 

[BelizeHatter]

Agree on Rhead. I'd love him if he was ours just like I love Hylton. Great villain.

Stech for all his greatness as a shotstopper has seemed one howler away from a confidence crisis all season. First looked bad in real time but I think it Nick's 1FF the wall and slips under him, second is a real howler catches it and scoops it into the net.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I just watched their red back I think it could have been a straight red. Could be the camera angle but he looked to come over the ball, but his reaction seems honestly surprised so prepared to admit I could be wrong. Clear as day yellow tho and he'd kicked the ball away for the first.

 

[oakroader]

You can a smell a penalty coming soon....

 

[BelizeHatter]

Come on Jones. Cornick for Collins

 

[BelizeHatter]

We need a change badly. Rrunning out of steam after expending so much energy

 

[BelizeHatter]

At last. Makes sense to keep Collins for his defensive set play height too I guess

 

[BelizeHatter]

Super Super Dan

 

[oakroader]

Cmon you hatters...

 

[GTFCfish]

Did Hylton celebrate.........?

 

[BelizeHatter]

Did Hylton celebrate?.......60 yard run and knee slide right up to Rhead on the subs bench

 

[BelizeHatter]

Just kidding

 

[BelizeHatter]

Could easily be more goals. Both sides knackered

 

[BelizeHatter]

Harry Cornick is such a nightmare for a tired defense to face up to.

 

[oakroader]

Too early??

 

[oakroader]

 

[BelizeHatter]

That was a massive test passed with flying colours. Nice gap opened again. A blip, not a stall. Still a couple of small concerns. We need another central defender and should try out one of the two kids when the pressures off. Said for months Stech a slight worry but he saves more than he fluffs.

 

[Luke Imp]

Reads from both sides like a ding dong of a game!

From what I read on Twitter at HT from a few Imps there, they said they'd be surprised if Luton didn't score a couple in the second half and that they were outstanding.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Luke Berry was man of the match by a country mile. Covered every blade of grass and constantly looking for the ball. Him and Olly Lee are so far ahead of the midfield we had at Vale it's absurd.

Huge, huge, huge performance and result that. Danny Hylton is a god.

 

[Davidimp]

O well the moonball team get beat but teams want our players and our manager...
You're keen on Woodyard, time will time I guess.
5th with the smallest squad in the division ain't bad with 20 games to go.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

What a game. Thought we were running out of steam a little bit in that second half, the change to bring Cornick on was the right call and swung it back in our favour. Not only did we stick it out and carried on playing our game against a really tough and difficult opponent but showed great mental strength to pull ourselves back into the lead when it looked like Lincoln where going in the ascendancy.

What a player Luke Berry is, just totally and utterly class. Danny got MoM but should have been Berry in my view, was everywhere.

Loved Olly Lee beating about 3 players with 3 different tricks at the end on that run, if he had scored that it would have brought the house down I reckon!

Just a brilliant way to start the year, came through a real test there.

 

[Guernica]

Not disheartened by this result. We've had an excellent first half to the season but this was a game to far and I think we would all of said that. We have a good break to get players rested but more importantly signed as we need quality options to bring off the bench like Luton have. I'm really looking forward to the second half of the season, we've been competitive in pretty much every game and if we can keep hold of the manager and players whilst adding a few who knows what might happen.

I fully expect Luton to be champions and Mansfield to have a strong January and invest heavily.

 

[Hatter86]

Hell of a game, prefer the 8-2s and 7-0s though.

Didn’t have a great view of the sending off to be honest but it looked at though Rhead left an arm in. Sheehan reacted and they tangled. Punches thrown. Should probably have been a red each but again, didn’t really get a clear view. Definitely a red for Sheehan though. Stech maybe should have done better with the freekick.

From then on we were the better side, wouldn’t have known we were down to 10. Maybe Lincoln sat back too much and should have gone for a second. Ref was out of his depth and clearly eager to even it up. Thought he would give a pen for a challenge on Hylton, although it definitely wasn’t.

Great strength from Hylton for our goal and well finished from Collins. Looks like Sean Long hasn’t progressed much from when he was here.

Lincoln went up the other end and went ahead, a ball into the box. Rhead causing all sorts of problems. I said at the start of the season if we went up it would be in spite or our defense and with arguably 3/4s of our first choice defense not on the pitch we looked vulnerable. Ref then got a chance to even it up. First one was a yellow I guess for kicking the ball away. Second looked a solid block tackle for me but the ref got his red out. Well in charge for the rest of the half and a great finish from Justin to even it up. My man of the match that lad, almost looks more comfortable at left back than his natural right back position.

Surprised Lincoln took Rhead off however maybe he was being protected. On a yellow and the ref may have been looking to get him off too.

Even start to the second half, then Lincoln took control. Green chance over from a scramble then thundered against the post. Then a great cross from Berry and well put away by Hylton. Lincoln seemed beaten at that point. Cornick came on to run at the tired defense and scored a fine solo goal. Lincoln’s heads well and truly down and we could have had a fifth but Collins was denied by the bar.

Great win and we really had to tough it out. Stupid from Sheehan but the ref was poor. Would have to see both instances again but it looked like two reds for the first incident however the Lincoln sending off was very harsh IMHO. Lincoln were a decent organised side however it’s difficult to gauge how good as any normal pattern to the game was thrown out of the window with the early sending off and goal.

Great day out. May need to look at a defender with Sheehan out for 3, Cuthbert injured and Mullins injury record. Rea also looking incredibly nervous after his Port Vale horror show.

Pressure off game against Newcastle next week. Going up on the Friday and coming back sunday. Should be bloody brilliant. Come on you Hats.

 

[Luke Imp]

The ref told Cowley at HT that one more foul and he'd send Rhead off.

 

[Guernica]

What he said ^^^^

 

[Kenneth E End]

The ref told Cowley at HT that one more foul and he'd send Rhead off.

Should a ref really be saying that during a game? Genuine question, I’m in two minds.

 

[Luke Imp]

Hell of a game, prefer the 8-2s and 7-0s though.

Didn’t have a great view of the sending off to be honest but it looked at though Rhead left an arm in. Sheehan reacted and they tangled. Punches thrown. Should probably have been a red each but again, didn’t really get a clear view. Definitely a red for Sheehan though. Stech maybe should have done better with the freekick.

From then on we were the better side, wouldn’t have known we were down to 10. Maybe Lincoln sat back too much and should have gone for a second. Ref was out of his depth and clearly eager to even it up. Thought he would give a pen for a challenge on Hylton, although it definitely wasn’t.

Great strength from Hylton for our goal and well finished from Collins. Looks like Sean Long hasn’t progressed much from when he was here.

Lincoln went up the other end and went ahead, a ball into the box. Rhead causing all sorts of problems. I said at the start of the season if we went up it would be in spite or our defense and with arguably 3/4s of our first choice defense not on the pitch we looked vulnerable. Ref then got a chance to even it up. First one was a yellow I guess for kicking the ball away. Second looked a solid block tackle for me but the ref got his red out. Well in charge for the rest of the half and a great finish from Justin to even it up. My man of the match that lad, almost looks more comfortable at left back than his natural right back position.

Surprised Lincoln took Rhead off however maybe he was being protected. On a yellow and the ref may have been looking to get him off too.

Even start to the second half, then Lincoln took control. Green chance over from a scramble then thundered against the post. Then a great cross from Berry and well put away by Hylton. Lincoln seemed beaten at that point. Cornick came on to run at the tired defense and scored a fine solo goal. Lincoln’s heads well and truly down and we could have had a fifth but Collins was denied by the bar.

Great win and we really had to tough it out. Stupid from Sheehan but the ref was poor. Would have to see both instances again but it looked like two reds for the first incident however the Lincoln sending off was very harsh IMHO. Lincoln were a decent organised side however it’s difficult to gauge how good as any normal pattern to the game was thrown out of the window with the early sending off and goal.

Great day out. May need to look at a defender with Sheehan out for 3, Cuthbert injured and Mullins injury record. Rea also looking incredibly nervous after his Port Vale horror show.

Pressure off game against Newcastle next week. Going up on the Friday and coming back sunday. Should be bloody brilliant. Come on you Hats.

All of that is basically what Cowley said post-match.

He didn't comment on the Sheehan sending off because he didn't see it (off the ball incident?) although the interviewer said is was a straight red. He also didn't think Anderson's was anything other than a good challenge having been shown the video of it and that we sat off after the first for some reason.

There was apparently a period in the first half where the ref booked anyone who made a challenge, which is no surprise when you send off a player early doors whether it wasn't or, in this case, was.

 

[Luke Imp]

Should a ref really be saying that during a game? Genuine question, I’m in two minds.

It was at HT and Cowley was asked about that but apparently it's quite common for refs to do so.

I'm in two minds as well.

 

[Hatter86]

The ref told Cowley at HT that one more foul and he'd send Rhead off.

I figured that might be it. He was itching to send him off.