What Might Have Been

Back at The Valley, against a team on paper at least decidedly mid-table with decidedly mid-table recent form, plus the knowledge before kick-off that three points would take us level with Wycombe – and would be needed to keep in touch with Wrexham. But this time around, unlike the previous two, we didn’t get them. We might easily have lost, having been two behind close to the hour mark; we might easily have won, had Godden’s header not been very well saved, as we were well on top in the closing stages, with still 15 minutes of normal time left when we equalised (and the expectation of a fair number to be added on to compensate for Lincoln’s time-wasting). But we didn’t and, while acknowledging the element of point gained, that focuses attention on what went wrong.

The team we knew would not show material changes on the back of two splendid – in their different ways – victories and given the continued absence of Maynard-Brewer, Leaburn and Kanu. The questions were whether Jones would return at the back, even though McIntyre had filled in very capably at Mansfield, and whether Campbell might be ruled out given his pulling up late in that game. Neither made it – and that provided the obvious main factor behind the outcome.

Without Campbell, Jones opted to play Anderson in his sort of area. That was, with hindsight of course, a poor choice, with no reflection on Anderson. Campbell has been effective, especially of late (even aside from his three goals in the last two games), playing as a second striker – but not really. Debate rages with other Addicks about just what formation we play. The BBC lists it as a 4-2-3-1, but for me that’s nonsense. I still insist we play with a back five, with Small and Edwards wing-backs. But Campbell naturally drifts wide left, which can have the effect of pulling central defenders out of position. With the ball he either creates something for himself, or crosses from the left – with Berry I assume under instructions to anticipate the space and be ready with Godden to get on the end of balls into the box. Expecting Anderson to duplicate that role was surely a long shot. He worked hard of course, but was never going to beat players with the ball and stretch Lincoln.

I said to friends at the time that surely the better option, if we were looking for something akin to like-for-like, would have been to start with Dixon, with him moving either down the left side or the right (in which case Small would cross over). If that option was not considered suitable, the only other one was to change the system, accept that playing it requires Campbell to do what he does. That would have meant a 4-4-2 and Ahadme starting alongside Godden. Not a problem if the players were ready for it (and I guess it’s possible Campbell was only ruled out late in the week) and were prepared to play in a different style. All you can say for sure is that the choice Jones made didn’t work, which is no reflection on Anderson, and it was only when we changed formation that we started to function, perhaps with an element of having to chase the game.

As it was, Jones said we looked off the pace in the first hour, that in the first 60 minutes “we were nowhere near the levels we needed to be and I take full responsibility for that”. Fair enough. Out of possession we were much the same, aggressive and allowing the opposition little time on the ball. But with it we were uncertain, because – I would suggest – players weren’t able to do what they have been used to in recent weeks. It doesn’t take much for a team not to function going forward, especially against opposition that were content to get numbers behind the ball and not see a lot of the ball.

That’s perhaps not giving Lincoln enough credit. They’re no mugs and had weapons to hurt us, especially from set pieces. They made few mistakes when in possession and took their opportunities when they came along. That they were time-wasting from pretty much the moment they scored their second, and that their antics sometimes were cynical, wins them no fans, but you can’t really blame them for that. It was up to the referee to call them to task, which he failed to do (and then compounded his sins by adding only five minutes at the end, despite multiple substitutions, injuries, three goals, extensive time-wasting etc and then blew on exactly 95 minutes despite stoppage time having a substitution and a yellow card incident).

As far as the key moments were concerned, them scoring first had a material impact on the game. The opening exchanges had been mixed but they had a spell of winning a few corners, the third of which was angled very well to the near post. As soon as you saw that their guy was going to get there first you feared the worst. Just needed a glance and that’s what it got, leaving Mannion with no chance. The delivery was very good, the header adept, our sin was in allowing the scorer to get free and be first to the ball at the near post. Poor from our perspective.

The closest we came to equalising was just after the half-hour as Small outrageously spinned past a couple, cut inside another, then instead of scoring goal of the season hit it over the bar. That was matched by a volley from them inside our box just before half-time which Mannion saved well to his right.

At the break we had enjoyed 58% possession and had six attempts on goal, one on target, against their two – both on target (the goal and the late shot). My impression at the time was that we were clearly in trouble and needed Docherty and Berry to up their contributions, as well as changing the formation. Jones did that, with Aneke on for the unlucky Anderson.

Before we had a chance to see how that would pan out we were two down. Another preventable one unfortunately. A routine ball down the line was headed inside by their guy to another. McIntyre clearly felt he could get to the ball and clear. He was wrong, and having committed himself was out of the picture. Their guy took it on and before another challenge to be made played it across Mannion and into the far corner.

It was a defensive error of judgement, nothing unique about that, Gillesphey and others have made them this season. But we paid for it. Might have been interesting to see how McIntyre responded, but a few minutes later Jones changed things again, with him and Berry withdrawn and Dixon and Mitchell sent on. Seemed to be a switch to four at the back, two up front, with a midfield four of Small, Coventry Docherty, and Dixon.

On 53 minutes we almost fell three behind as Mitchell was caught out and their guy shot over. But just after that Aneke turned and shot well, their keeper kept it out at the expense of a corner, and from that we pulled one back. It was messy, ball not cleared, Aneke scuffing it, but when it ran to Gillesphey he was composed enough to take a touch and then prod it beyond their keeper.

Another real momentum shift in the game and Lincoln retreated into their shell. On 74 minutes it was 2-2. A long throw from the left was headed out but Docherty collected, took a touch and then shot low into the corner through enough players to unsight their keeper.

15 minutes plus still to go and all us. We just needed to fashion the winner to make it another very good afternoon. And it so nearly came on 80 minutes. Small on the right laid it back for Coventry to cross. He sent in a good curling one and Godden timed his move to perfection. His header seemed destined for the net, only for their keeper to stick out a hand and turn it around the post. Looking at it again, Godden’s header was very good – but not perfect. Instead of the ball hitting the ground as it went past the keeper it bounced a little in front of him, rising high enough for him to get the hand to it. Excellent save nonetheless.

After that nothing quite dropped. Aneke shot wide from a corner; a free-kick on the edge of the area for a foul on Godden resulted in a Gillesphey shot saved. Gilbert and Ahadme were sent on at the death, for Small and Docherty, with by now formation rather a mystery, but when Gilbert prodded a shot wide it was curtains as the referee prematurely ended the game.

We can all see what the result and Wrexham’s win mean for the table, plus Stockport moving above us. Five games left and Wrexham need only eight points (probably only seven given goal difference) to rule us out of second place. If the gap was six and as we still have to play them it was still a reasonable possibility. Now it is very much a long shot. Nobody’s suggesting it’s impossible, we try to win each game and see what happens for sure. But perhaps there is some advantage to be had. If we have flogged ourselves to death to get second and narrowly missed out, that might have left us mentally not ready for the play-offs.

The notional target now is the fact that seventh-placed Reading can get to 83 points, so to be sure of a play-off spot we need 11 points from our last five games. Of course the real figure will be less, but that return guarantees us a top-six finish. Sure, two of the games are against Wycombe and Wrexham. Have to just wait and see where Tuesday night’s results leave us and focus on just beating Cambridge on Saturday.