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.

If ever Lincoln City needed their supporters, it’s now.

Supporter: A person who supports, promotes, advocates or champions a cause or movement; an adherent. A person who provides moral or physical support to another; an attendant.

I suppose if you’re reading this you’ve probably never left a game early without good reason, booed your team, barracked a City player or wanted a squad member to fail. There are people who would, they’re called the paying public, not supporters or fans.

I’ll freely admit though, it’s difficult at the moment. The Imps are actually playing well but cannot score, it’s as simple as that. We’re all now looking forward to the January transfer window and the signing of the player who can put us out our misery, the twenty goals a season man. What’s the likelihood of that would you say? Top strikers cost top money, the sort of money that some teams seem to have but we don’t. We can pay the wages, make some stadium improvements, put on a good show on a match day, fan zone, the state of the pitch, pick up the litter.

I’m quite sure though that we will see additions to the squad. There well may be departures, in fact that’s almost assured, but adding to the squad will be gradual and organic I’d say. Presumably most of the budget is accounted for although hopefully the club will see the necessity for some spending. It won’t be a million though and even then what does that buy you?

In the meantime what can we do? What are doing already would be my assessment, what else can we do, have a whip round? This is league one and that doesn’t come cheap. This is what we wanted so it’s no use complaining about it. When the going gets tough and all that. If you want continued success, watch Sky and “support” Manchester City.

You won’t enjoy it nearly so much as following your own local team though, honest, you won’t

City in flux at the moment but do get the point.

I don’t really understand the flak the Imps received after Friday nights draw with Shrewsbury. I thought some of the early play was, if anything something of an improvement on that previously. It didn’t last, you don’t need me to tell you that but in terms of what Michael Appleton is trying to achieve and the incremental way he is implementing his plans, I say keep going. At least there’s a plan and it’s well worth sticking to.

Of course there are squad deficiencies or at least deficiencies in the make up of the squad that Appleton will need to address. City have been operating with a very small squad. I expect that to change. The practice of playing one up front is also frustrating. Teams like Shrewsbury, as we saw frequently last season, will come to Sincil Bank to stymie the Imps. It’s not rocket science and it’s not limited to league one, teams will come set up not to lose, it’s up to the home team to get round that conundrum. For that reason Christmas can’t come soon enough, presumably, for the manager and with it the possibility of shaping the roster more to his liking.

In the meantime City must continue to rack up the points. After the barren spell which was the result of the upheavals at the club (or was that going to happen in any event?) City are now averaging four points per three games. It’s not promotion form but neither is it relegation. Personally I’d be more than happy with a mid table finish for this season and subsequent ones for that matter as long as we are progressing.

If you look at Peterborough (told you I had something of an obsession there) which is, for my money a club we could look to emulate, they have had several seasons in league one but seem to be significantly wealthier. It does help when you’ve got a rich backer but they are now able to speculate with players for the future and a couple of big sales a season does offset the limitations a club must overcome in terms of spectators through the gate and investment in general.

Of course, Lincoln City, in an ideal world could attract significant financial backing in the future. I think the club were rather hoping that would arrive in time to tempt the previous management to stay but it didn’t and it’s no use crying over spilt milk but, as long as the club can continue to progress and retain its enthusiastic support you would think, if a club like Wycombe can be on an investors radar a well run outfit like City might be too even if we are some way off the beaten track. That doesn’t do Norwich City much harm does it?

So we go on with another big game on the near horizon. As stated earlier they’re all big but, as we saw with Sunderland previously, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that City could upset the league one applecart and give another big name a red face, we’ve been doing that for some time after all.

Too Posh to push. For promotion.

We got caught up in a bit of a melee coming away from the Peterborough game. The police seemed to be intent on holding back part of the departing fans and I got talking to a fellow Imp who said if we play like that for the rest of the season we’ll be alright, or words to that effect. I think he was right, in fact I thought City were better than that and really the difference between the sides were the two, admittedly well taken, goals.

In terms of the play, in the first half particularly, it seemed to me if anything the Imps were the more fluid and of course, we know where the bulk of the Peterborough spending has gone and that showed. I’m probably going to get a few groans from certain quarters but I thought if John Akinde had a bit longer to rough up the Posh defence, that elusive goal may have come. Whether City could have then added another is debatable.

I’m not high profile enough to attract comment from other supporters but I gather the Peterborough fans seem to be developing delusions of grandeur when it comes to their team. If I’m honest I can see them getting promoted with that strike force but as for being a big fish in the championship, dream on would be my reaction to that. There are big enough creatures in league one never mind above.

Our concern is red and white however and another big test tonight. They’re all big tests of course but if City can produce the tempo they showed in the first half at Peterborough and the determination and potency of the Sunderland match, the season will be right back on track.

Today I’m wearing red to give the red card to racism. Not that difficult for a retired Imp on match day. I thought the usually tongue tied Chris Kamara was very eloquent on TV this morning and when he was describing the things he had to put up with in his playing days my head hung a little. I don’t think I ever joined in with the sort of chants that emanated from the terraces back in the day but the fact I can’t definitely confirm makes me uneasy.

I actually feel sorry for those black clad buffoons at the England game the other night. If you can’t respect others you surely don’t think yourself worthy of respect and I don’t think we can hold our heads all that high at the booing of the Bulgarian national anthem either.

It’s a small step from what went on in that game towards some of our players to picking on people for disability and where after that, the elderly? Widen the net still further and we could all be included in the treatment. Personally I’d say if you’re an Imp you’re one of us. Regardless. If you’re a football fan. Respect. Even if you’re clad in black and white or claret and blue or yellow. Respect. I still want my team to beat yours though.