Oh dear what can the matter be?

The manager loses no opportunity to explain that the budget is one of the lowest in the league. The board are working hard but hamstrung because few fans are attending home games. The fans, to read some websites, suspect that there is investment available but there are few new faces appearing on the board. Au contraire, say the board, watch this space. Everyone is fed up of watching the team lose.


The visit of Luton Town at least raised the prospect of a decent home gate although at a touch short of 3000 even that much improved attendance is still adrift of the break even figure but something like 2100 home fans represents a significant increase in the previous interest and an impressive 800 odd from Luton made for a good atmosphere in the stadium.

The stage was therefore set for City to raise their game and have a right good go at the opposition to let the stay away fans see what they have been missing; City’s last two home fixtures have produced wins. To be fair the team did have a good go at the Hatters although the manager’s choice of formation with just Jamie Taylor up front caused a few groans. Undaunted, City set about Luton with a vengeance before the game took a depressingly familiar look. Chances created and spurned before goalkeeper Paul Farman of all people gifted the opposition the lead with an uncharacteristic flap that saw the ball end up in City’s net.

Home fans were expecting some changes at half time but it was the Hatters who, no doubt stung by their complete inability to make headway against the Imps, that goal apart, Shaw and Rowe-Turner coming on to beef up Luton’s resolve. No sooner were the formalities completed and the second half underway when Luton doubled their lead again with with more than a little assistance from the home side. The defence like rabbits caught in the headlights leaving Jon Shaw the simple task of slotting the ball past an unmoving Farman.

City did finally get on the score sheet in spectacular fashion as Farman repulsed a Luton attack and the ball went all the way to the other end where Taylor lashed a thunderbolt past Tyler in the Hatters goal to bring the home fans to their feet

David Holdsworth did at last send reinforcements to the attack with the introduction of Colin Larkin and, a little later took off Peter Bore which baffled me a little as Bore was having a positive influence and surely experience was needed, and replaced him with the boy Robinson. Didn’t understand that, didn’t understand one up front. The changes proved too little too late and the game fizzled out as did City as an attacking force.

The game ended with the now familiar boos but it had been an upbeat performance from the home team but who, once again unhinged themselves with sloppiness in defence not to mention that howler from Farman. City really should have won this game on the evidence of their performance and now enter the twilight world of the bottom four of the division.

Do you remember the theme tune to that old sitcom “Auf Weidersehen Pet”? Some of the words went “no one said it was going to be easy” and I don’t think any one with Lincoln City connections were so presumptuous. By the same token I don’t think any of us thought it was going to be quite as difficult as it is proving either.