The fledgling Jacko Juniors side entertained Championship Barnsley last night, with many fans expecting a mauling.
However the side Jacko has put together turned in a strong and competent display against The Tykes, and as usual LCM were there to see the action live. As with every home game this season, we’ll be bringing you our player ratings. So here is our view of last night’s action on a player by player basis.
Rob Burch
We didn’t think it was possible for Burch to have a better game than he did on Saturday, but last night he excelled. It’d be wrong to label it his best performance ever, but it was certainly his best in a Lincoln City shirt. Time and time again he kept the Barnsley strikers at bay, and one double save in particular will live long in the memory. On this evidence he’ll get his Premier League chance later in his career.
Rating – 10/10
Cian Hughton
Occasionally done for pace, occasionally caught out of position, but when you remember this was his second competitive game against a side two levels above it’d be unfair to lay into him too harshly. Looks better pushing forward, but all in all a decent display from the youngster
Rating – 6/10
Aaron Brown
Brown dropped into his lesser favoured position of left back in Joe Heath’s absence, and turned in a more solid display than the previous match. His distribution from dead ball situations wasn’t the best, but his work rate and commitment could not be faulted. He will get better as he gets more games under his belt.
Rating – 6/10
Janos Kovacs
Up to the goal Janos was potentially the best player on the pitch. He kept Odejay quiet all game with a master class in no nonsense defending. Then he dithered for a few seconds and Maltese international Bogdanovich robbed him for the goal. After that indecision and hesitancy crept into his game a little bit, spoiling his evening. Still should take heart from the sixty five minutes before the goal when he was superb.
Rating – 7/10
Moses Swaibu
The better of the two centre halves last night, Moses Swaibu is looking every inch the strong, leggy centre back. A couple of his challenges were excellent, and his heading and ariel ability also looked masterful. If he keeps this up poor Danny Hone won’t get a game all season.
Rating – 8/10
Richard Butcher
Butcher still seemed to take a defensive role despite partnering Shane Clarke in the midfield. He did what he does best, made tackles and played the ball about. He was caught in possession once or twice, and made the occasional bad pass choice but in the main he had a typical Butch game. Captained the side and fully deserved to.
Rating - 7/10
Shane Clarke
Shane came in with Steff Oakes moving out wide, and he made a nuisance of himself. However he drifted further and further forward, and as the game wore on looked sloppier and sloppier. He had a second half effort that wouldn’t have troubled a snowman in the goal. He does do a job, but the sooner Scott Kerr comes back the better.
Rating – 5/10
Stefan Oakes
Found himself out wide last night, and that in itself brought a certain amount of derision from the fans. However Oakes has a point to prove, and last night he went about doing so with aplomb. There’s no hiding the fact he can’t tackle, but he has started trying and gave away a couple of free kicks. His distribution last night was fantastic and at times his passing bamboozled the championship side. If he continues to perform in this manner he’ll be troubling the Team of the Year selectors in April. Excellent.
Rating - 8/10
Jamie Clarke
The similarities with Asamoah are growing by the day. He has pace, skill, trickery but doesn’t seem to be able to get the ball away when he needs to. However he did trouble Barnsley last night with pace and sometimes an almost inhuman ability to hang on to the ball under pressure. At times made the wrong pass selection or shot selection but that will come with some experience. Needs to get some lift on his crosses though.
Rating – 6/10
Rene Howe
The Beast looked every bit the stereotypical bustling front man last night, as strong as an ox with a keen eye for goal. One volley in particular was exquisite in the extreme, and he was a constant thorn in the side of the Barnsley defence. It was his first start for the Imps; expect him to feature in most the games in between now and January. LCM predicts he will score goals in League Two for us this season.
Rating – 8/10
Paul Connor
Another good display from Connor, who linked up well with Howe. Has a tendency to want his back to goal when maybe he could have got a shot away. However to criticise him would be unfair as he had another great game, always troubling the Tykes in the air and always showing composure and a cracking eye for a pass. A really shrewd acquisition by Jacko.
Rating – 8/10