THE GAME
Almost a year to the day that Rovers were beaten 5-0 at Sincil Bank, they did again; same scoreline and on each occasion a Lincoln player scored a hat trick – you couldn’t make it up!
Inigo Calderon made two changes to the side that had beaten promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers just days earlier. Chris Martin was missing from the squad altogether, presumably through injury. His place was taken by skipper Scott Sinclair, while Jack Hunt returned in place of Joel Senior.
It was to no avail, though, as a tired looking Rovers side were no match for their hosts. Tom Bayliss and James Collins went close early on for Lincoln, as did Reeco Hackett whose effort was palmed away by Jed Ward.
Ward then saved well from Jovon Makama and it wasn’t until the 25th minute that Rovers found some respite from the one way traffic when Taylor Moore headed wide from a Kofi Shaw corner. It was just one of three goal attempts during the 90 minutes.
It was really no surprise when Lincoln took the lead on 31 minutes when Makama latched on to a pass from Paudie O’Connor and powered a shot past Ward. The goalkeeper saved his side from conceding again before the break when he prevented Conor McGrandles from doubling the lead.
The home side scored four more goals without response after the break. Four minutes in Tom Bayliss scored direct from a corner while James Collins curled home a left foot shot on 53 minutes.
Ruel Sotiriou almost pulled a goal back shortly afterwards but was denied by George Wickens, while Shaw saw two efforts blocked by home defenders.
However, it was game over on 66 minutes when Makama scored his second of the afternoon and he went on to complete his hat trick with nine minutes remaining to complete a miserable afternoon for Rovers.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘I didn’t like the first half at all. Even from the start of the game, I could see the energy was not there. We were quite flat. I was not happy at all with the performance. I think we paid the price today of the last two games. The energy wasn’t there. I wouldn’t say that they didn’t try because I think they tried, but we didn’t have the energy. When you don’t have the energy, you have to try to find a way to get something, and I don’t think we could.
‘We talked at half time, and I think it was a good chat, but obviously the goals after killed us. When you’re having a bad day when you try to change things, that’s difficult to take and after the next one is coming. It was a really difficult day to be here. If we are not 100 per cent, we can lose 5-0. It’s as simple as that. If we are at 100 per cent, we can beat anyone, but if we are not at 100 per cent, that can happen.
‘I think we approached the game alright. Last game against Shrewsbury away, we were better, but I think, from the start, I think you could see the energy. I said to the boys that we have to rest. We’re going to have the day off and rest, but we have to go back on Saturday against Crawley because it’s a massive one for us. It hurts to lose by that much, but I prefer to lose this game 5-0 than five games 1-0. I will never say forget this game because I don’t think you have to forget. We have to use this pain, everything that we are feeling now. I will try and remind them the whole week how you suffer the whole week if you are not at 100 per cent.’ (Rovers Head Coach Inigo Calderon)
‘It was a really difficult afternoon with the lads. I think when the second goal and the third goal go in, heads start to drop. It was a really difficult game. We can’t dwell on that. We’ve got important games going on and the next games, Crawley and then Mansfield, and we’ve just got to keep going.
‘I think we’ve been on a good run in the last few games, beating Bolton and beating Huddersfield. I think the lads gave everything. It’s been a good couple of games, but we’ve just got to keep going and for us to go into the next game and pick up the three points. There are nine games left, and that’s all we can do.
‘Once we’re back into training, we settle down, and we’ll look at all the mistakes and the positives out of the game. We’ll move into the next game and get the three points then. We’ve got great fans. They follow us everywhere we go and, unfortunately, we didn’t put on the display today. When we’re in the home games, it seems that we’re much better. I think we need to start picking up points away from home and give the fans what they pay their money for.’ (Rovers skipper Scott Sinclair)
‘Jovon was unplayable. When I came into the building, I said he had talent, but we might have to wait for it. His challenge now is to keep it up consistently, but you saw his quality, his power, his physicality, and his goals were magnificent. The crazy bit is he can still get better, he still has lots to learn and improve on.
‘From start to finish I thought we were electric. That’s what we want to look like. Everyone was top. Tactically we were brilliant, and the structure was great. We were exciting when we went forward, we kept the threat going and had too much for them. It was a great afternoon of football. When we get it right and connect, we look electric. We had 24 shots in their box and could have scored more.
‘We think about all the attacking moments but the defensive structure and build up play with the ball were really great, we moved the ball well, but we had to defend well too.’ (Lincoln Head Coach Michael Skubala)
