Imps only themselves to blame as two points go west.

No one checks out this blog hoping for in depth analysis of the latest City performance, that’s not what I’m about. I’ll talk about the weather, historical trivia, political nonsense that maybe some of you latch on to maybe you don’t. Even I though have sat at Sincil Bank lately watching City retreat ever further back, playing the ball back to the keeper from our own half, trying to ping the ball about in our own penalty area thinking, one of these days we’re going to come unstuck here. So it came to pass.

A draw at home isn’t the end of the world, it isn’t even the end of the Imps at the top of the table. It’s going to happen and certainly it will if City take their foot off the gas as they did against Port Vale. They did and whilst it took a wonder strike to force the draw a tired looking, I thought, Imps surrendered a winning position. Harry Anderson, not for the first time took a bit of a battering, Bozzie looked out of sorts, Matt Rhead found himself surrounded, it had been a mixed Christmas with a loss, couple of wins and a draw. Worse things have happened.

Unlike previous occasions our opponents did not mirror our slip, so it’s a bit tighter at the top as we have to expect but City are still clear at the summit, the sun will rise tomorrow and people will still struggle with the concept of two lanes becoming one on Canwick Hill. It’s to be expected. We all know what to do but still manage to do it badly, just like The Imps on New Years Day.

City, as usual, started off with a bang but this was quickly snuffed out as Port Vale forced a series of corners to pen the Imps back in their own half. It took some time to get out. I had an idea in my mind an early goal and maybe a relaxing afternoon at Sincil Bank but it was far from the case as, once again an inspired opponent, no doubt stung by the mauling City gave them previously, relished playing in front of a packed stadium and gave the lie to their humble points tally.

Just when it looked like City had survived with the points in the bag they were undone by a strike worthy of winning a game let alone rescuing a point. Vale supporters were understandably jubilant. I suppose we should take some comfort that a draw should be so triumphantly fanfared. There was a slight air of menace in their celebration as a few walked back to the buses. A pity as City are making such efforts to be as welcoming as possible but the Imps are a big scalp at the moment even if it was only a draw.