The agony and the. Er………

I’ve just realised what that insistent little voice coming deep from my subconscious was trying to tell me when I sat chortling over yet another ninety fifth minute equaliser often followed by a ninety sixth minute winner. Those mis hit free kicks that somehow ended up in the back of the net. The dodgy penalties. That voice was saying “You do realise there will be a payback for all this don’t you?”

Now, and you don’t need me to tell you this, all those chickens are coming home to roost. This was no better illustrated than by last nights cup replay at Sincil Bank where City took the game to their illustrious opponents and for my money played really well for most of the game. The neutral would certainly not have been able to separate the princes from the paupers. Yet in the end it was the same old story, the Imps laid siege to Ipswich’s goal but, once again, through a combination of bad luck, an inspired goalkeeper and out of form Imps, City exited the FA Cup with the jubilant roars of Tractorboys assaulting their ears. How the mighty (relatively) have fallen. For the musically minded, in the words of The Cure, It used to be me. As one of our party ruefully said at the end, now we know what it feels like. We’ve done the jubilation, now it’s time to roll with the punches.

I can’t honestly blame the team. Once again the incoming players acquitted themselves well. Harry Anderson surely is playing his way into the starting eleven. Talking of bad luck there’s no game this Saturday. If there was, he’d be in wouldn't he?. At the risk of ruffling a few feathers I thought John Akinde justified a start and yet (before you say it) a combination of, again, bad luck, timidity and, well, sheer lack of any kind of form, not just him, that goal remained unbreached.

So, with a kind of inevitability, as we were contemplating extra time and wondering why Akinde had come off given the certainty of penalties, Ipswich Town saved us the bother.

I suppose we’ll do some early Christmas shopping this weekend, can’t be any worse than this torture. On second thoughts though, wonder if the Whites are at home on Saturday?

The magic of the cup. Not for me it isn’t.

I’m going tonight, of course I am. At a tenner or a fiver a go there should be a decent crowd but it isn’t a sell out. Perhaps we’ve gone all high and mighty now that we’re league one and all that.

The fact that we’re league one is the reason I’m not all that bothered about the result tonight. It’s usually said that the cup is an opportunity to forget the stresses and strains of the league. I don’t want to. I want to play and play until that damned corner is turned. Last Saturday apart, we’ve looked like its not far away. Goodness knows how many points we’ve nearly gained. Enough to see us mid table that’s for sure.

Just when we needed to play, we’re not. No game this Saturday. I thought at one time our luck had turned. Everything we touched turned to gold. Now it doesn’t but I firmly believe better times will return.

It seems to me the manager is trying to make us better defensively. He's largely succeeding but of course you don’t win games on defending alone, it’s not as if our set pieces are anything to write home about but if you don’t concede you gain a point.

Tonight of course is not about gaining points. I can’t imagine two sides less interested in the result than the two protagonists this evening but both sides are interested in keeping their season on the rails. In City’s case we must end the season as a league one side, it’s as simple as that.

Next season we can hopefully start to progress. I think I can see where the manager is trying to go with the playing style and I like it. The last thing we need right now is to have to get out of league two again so it’s imperative that City put in a good shift at Sincil Bank and take the opportunity to put a few things right. If we win, all well and good. If we lose, well we’re expected to but what I’d really like win or lose is to see some of that fighting spirit that has characterised the club recently.

Give me a selection headache says Appleton. Players oblige.

Any manager will spout out the usual pep talk when a lesser team is put out for a lesser competition. Usually many of the players present show why it is they’re not getting a start. On Tuesday however, in a hugely entertaining game against Rotherham all the players acquitted themselves well. Ben Coker and Freck were understandably ring rusty but got through ok. Max Melbourne had a decent game despite being out of position and you can’t argue with a clean sheet.

Plus of course there were goals, three of them, talk about unaccustomed as I am including a penalty. Remember the days when almost all of them were converted? Yes he’s back, this time with a bit of a blaster, well for Mr John Akinde it was a blaster and an outfield goal for him too. Paracetomol anyone?

Then there’s Harry Anderson. Remember me boss? Perhaps he will after an all action display for most of the game. There were audible gasps around me each time Harry tore past his opposite number. It didn’t quite last all game but again, any thoughts on that situation Michael?

Finally, last but not least, save the best till last and all that. Step forward Callum Connolly. You have given the manager the biggest conundrum of all, Sleepless nights for all the right reasons. Will he, could he leave him out after that or return him to midfield? Appleton likes ball playing defenders and for the third game in a row Connolly did the business.

So three goals and a clean sheet. Has the Lincoln Loco started to leave the sidings? What perfect timing if it has with Gillingham to come and with them a rotund Scotsman who always has something to say for himself. I’d love to be hearing some of those famed excuses come five o’clock Saturday.

Disappointed with a draw at Ipswich, are you kidding?

Do you remember that feeling of elation coupled with the thoughts of what might have been as we trooped away from Portman Road as a non league side? We were bound to lose the replay, we’d thrown away our best chance of going through surely?

We hadn’t of course and for me the disposal of Ipswich Town, the great Ipswich Town more than any of the cup fixtures got me thinking we could mix it with the big boys.

Now, we’re cursing our luck that we didn’t finish the job. Unlikely as it seems we’re on a par with the Tractor Boys. How does that make you feel? I peer back on a very long road covered in a very short space of time. Old fogeys like me hark back to Ipswich’s glory days playing in European competitions, one of the first clubs to embrace continental players in their team, managed by two eventual England managers. That Ipswich, the one were playing as equals. Sure they’re a bit down on their luck, the possibility of them returning to the top flight is remote and yet, and yet, compared to where we were we are the big boys.

My friend, the Boston United fan is praying we get through so they can draw us in the second round of the cup. He’d always want to draw us in the next round of the cup of course because we’re Lincoln but it’s more that that, we’re Lincoln City, league one. Same as Peterborough, same as Sunderland. He knows ninety nine times out of a hundred we’d beat them but he still wants to play us.

So yes, we’re a bit sore. Had the lead and threw it away, again, but you have to be in the lead to throw it away. Am I downhearted? No I’m not. Frustrated yes. A bit unsure about the future yes. Confused as to where we’re going, I suppose so.

But do I think we’re going back to where we were when we last played Ipswich, no. No I don't. Get that out of your head right now.