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Lincoln City 0-0 Ipswich Town - Half-Time
Tuesday, 17th Jan 2017 21:09

Town’s FA Cup third round replay at Lincoln City remains 0-0 at the break but with the home side having had the better of the first half.

Paul Digby, Leon Best, Dean Gerken, Jonathan Douglas and Grant Ward all returned to a Blues line-up featuring five changes from the side which beat Blackburn 3-2 on Saturday.

Digby was handed his second start of the season - the other was in the EFL Cup - in what was a continuation of the three-man backline, playing on the right with skipper Luke Chambers in the middle and Christophe Berra on the left. Adam Webster missed out, due to an ankle injury.

Josh Emmanuel and Jonas Knudsen were again the wing-backs, while Gerken started in goal as he did in the first match with Bartosz Bialkowski the sub keeper.

Ward and Douglas were in central midfield with Andre Dozzell and Kevin Bru dropping to the bench. Best replaced Freddie Sears, who was also among the subs, up front with Tom Lawrence.

Also on the bench were youngsters Adam McDonnell, a midfielder, striker Ben Morris and left-back Pat Webber.

Lincoln named the same XI which started the 2-2 draw at Portman Road having made six changes for Saturday’s 3-1 FA Trophy victory at Gateshead.


Following a minute’s applause for ex-Imps boss Graham Taylor, who died last week, Lincoln, who lined-up in a 4-4-2 system, started on the front foot in front of a noisy Sincil Bank crowd but without being able to carve out an early opening.

Town first threatened from a long Knudsen throw from the left but Lincoln eventually cleared the danger.

On 10 Nathan Arnold shot well over for the home side, then soon afterwards Lawrence, scorer of both Town’s goals in the first match and five in his last three matches, broke forward ominously and hit a low 25-yard strike which Imps keeper Paul Farman got down to his right to save at a stretch.

Matt Rhead, who had already been spoken to by referee Ben Toner twice for transgressions, headed a cross well wide in the 15th minute with Blues keeper Gerken still to be seriously tested.

Lincoln were having most of the ball with the Blues unable to keep it whenever they got hold of it.

The home side began to threaten and in the 24th minute the ball was played into Theo Robinson’s feet on the edge of the six-yard box. The former Derby man, who scored twice in the first match, tried to turn but found his way blocked by Chambers and Digby.

The Blues were under the cosh against the again impressive Vanarama National League leaders but on 29 Best brought the ball out and fed Lawrence to his left.

The Welshman played a superb first-time ball in towards Ward breaking in on goal down the middle but too far in front of the former Spurs man, who went to ground as he collided with Farman but without claiming a penalty.

But Lincoln continued to pin Town back inside their own area and on 33 Terry Hawkridge crossed from the right, however, Rhead was unable to make a clean contact on the ball, which flew wide.

Town made it out of their own half in the 36th minute and Ward fed Emmanuel to his right but the wing-back’s cross didn’t find a Blues player and the Imps cleared.

There was a big scare for the Blues a minute from the end of the half when Imps skipper Luke Waterfall was found in space from a knockdown from a long throw on the left and seemed certain to score. However, Gerken quickly came off his line to palm his effort past the post. Inexplicably referee Toner gave a goalkick.

Town would have been much the happier to hear the official’s whistle ending a half which had been thoroughly dominated by the home side.

The Imps had controlled the game throughout with the Blues forced to defend on the edge of their box for long spells and will feel they had done enough to go in front.

Waterfall’s chance towards the end of the half was the best of the game, while Lawrence’s strike from distance was the only save home keeper Farman had been forced to make.

The Blues will have to be a very much better prospect in the second half if they’re to avoid exiting the FA Cup to non-league opposition for the first time since January 1960 when they were beaten 3-2 by Peterborough at Portman Road.

Lincoln: Farman, Wood, Haberham, Waterfall (c), Power, Rhead, Hawkridge, Raggett, Arnold, Woodyard, Robinson. Subs: Muldoon, Marriott, Long, Miles, McCombe, Weatherell, Walker.

Town: Gerken, Digby, Chambers (c), Berra, Emmanuel, Ward, Skuse, Douglas, Knudsen, Lawrence, Best. Subs: Bialkowski, Bru, Sears, Dozzell, McDonnell, Morris, Webber. Referee: Ben Toner.


Photo: Action Images



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hello66 added 21:09 - Jan 17
Whenever the back three get the ball they just hoof it clear aimlessly. Absolutely no movement so no options to pass. They're incapable of putting 3 or 4 one touch passes together. The players are pros so that comes down to the coaching. Midfield creativity is non existent and a striker who hasn't had a shot. Roll on full time!
6

jas0999 added 21:11 - Jan 17
Regardless of whether we go on to win this, how can MM keep his job?
7

blueboy1981 added 21:12 - Jan 17
What a sh-te performance so far - room for 110 per cent improvement in the second half from ITFC.

Shameful really against a non League side. Let's hope for much better second half.
1

martleshamitfc added 21:14 - Jan 17
Shocking!
4

Blue_Moses added 21:17 - Jan 17
7-2-1 against non-league, heads should roll for this.
3

Global_Blue added 21:18 - Jan 17
What is abundantly clear is that we have no game plan and are resulting to simple hoof and hope ball. This is embarrassing. Whatever the lack of investment is from ME, the team and tactics on the pitch come from MM. I hate to add to the chorus of voices but it's got to the point where he's just not good enough. I agree with Jas0999 - whatever the result tonight he has to go.

We should bring in the Cowley brothers, they're doing an amazing job at Lincoln.
9

blue75 added 21:18 - Jan 17
Embarrassing
7

ITFCsince67 added 21:18 - Jan 17
Utter shiiite Aimless hoofing.
3

Karlosfandangal added 21:19 - Jan 17
If Terry Butcher is saying we are clueless then it's a very sad day indeed
5

sproughtonblue added 21:20 - Jan 17
Oh my god....let it stop....please
4

Kirbmeister added 21:21 - Jan 17
What about Chris Sutton he was laughing about how awful we are.
4

Uhlenbeek added 21:21 - Jan 17
The commentators sound utterly bemused at how toothless we are. Welcome to our world.
4

Walk_the_Wark added 21:22 - Jan 17
Worldwide embarrassment. Who's still supporting super mick ??????
5

hello66 added 21:22 - Jan 17
Hope Evan's is watching his glossy team playing silky foolball .... yes bloody fool... football !
4

superblues9 added 21:23 - Jan 17
Struggling to stay awake !
2

superblues9 added 21:24 - Jan 17
How does he keep in a job with this utter rubbish nxt goal will win it
4

tallguy6767 added 21:25 - Jan 17
Shameful !! No doubt mCcu#thy will think it's a decent performance
2

martleshamitfc added 21:26 - Jan 17
60 mins gone and still no changes from the manager!! suppose in his world 0.0 is a good result!
3

philpott2 added 21:26 - Jan 17
This is just embarrassing....it's like watching two min-league teams .....shocking.
And I am still thinking my sons u16 team play more football and have a better idea than this lot that get PAID and are supposed to be professionals!!!
3

philpott2 added 21:27 - Jan 17
Non-league it should say....
So p'd off I can't type!
2

norfolkbluey added 21:33 - Jan 17
I can't believe I'm watching my ITC. Is this what we have become. If we win it will be so unfair on Lincoln City.
4

StochesStotasBlewe added 21:33 - Jan 17
It is sh#t.
2

westley added 21:33 - Jan 17
Whatever happens tonight we need a change of manager joke can't even put 2 passes together so sad how great this club once was
5

martin587 added 21:34 - Jan 17
Diabolical, embarrassing to watch.!!
4

blueboy1981 added 21:39 - Jan 17
.......... and some will still be satisfied - and, of course, full of excuses as per normal.
2


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