The professionals.

Matt Gilks probably didn’t see five and a half thousand Lincoln City fans on their feet applauding his wonder save late on at Milton Keynes. On the other hand Bruno Andrade couldn’t miss us but in truth the massed ranks of red and white were on their feet long before the ball hit the back of the net.

I’ve mixed feelings about that save. City in truth never looked in danger of letting this game slip but if it had gone in then, whilst a draw would not have been disastrous a goal would have led to a very jittery last few minutes.

As it happened, and I hardly need to tell you this because you were probably there but as it happened Bruno Andrade settled any concerns, I wouldn’t put it any more than that with a very decent finish that put paid to any ambitions M K Dons had of getting the better of Lincoln City.

I couldn’t tell you what sort of team MK are as City, for my money, had them in a straightjacket all afternoon. Yes they had one or two forays as you might expect for a team second in the table and so good at home to boot but they had no answer to City’s power and athleticism, control and belief and eventually they and their supporters were forced to come to the realisation if they hadn’t already that they are playing for second place at best.

Mansfield have now leapfrogged MK in the table and as I see it, those two plus Bury, who slipped up again (manager of the season? I don’t think so) and Tranmere are battling for silver and bronze whilst perennial bottlers Forest Green Rovers, for me have the playoffs to look forward to at best. If points were awarded for style they’d be home and hosed but they’re not so they’re not. You’ll just have to content yourself with being guardians of footballs soul Mr Cooper. Another star on the back of those FGR shirts is probably not going to be needed.

Underneath City the situation is fascinating if only because a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions would have to befall City, certainly to prevent them gaining promotion and in terms of the championship I don’t think anyone who witnessed that performance today would doubt City's ability to lift the league trophy either so we will, I believe, watch the scramble up the greasy pole for the remaining places on offer with detached interest.

I shouldn’t tempt providence really but if you were there you’d know what I mean.