Lincoln City played out a 1-1 draw, in a physical encounter against a well organised Wycombe Wanderers.
The LNER Stadium was blustery for the visit of Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One action.
There were two changes to the Imps’ side that beat Morecombe in midweek, as Liam Cullen and Brooke Norton-Cuffy came in to the starting line-up, replacing Morgan Whittaker and Joe Walsh.
The visitors were in sixth place ahead of kick-off, sitting just inside the play-off positions, whilst the Imps were down in 17th, having picked up some important results in recent weeks.
Kick-off
Lincoln City won a corner in the 5th minute, Cohen Bramall’s pace on the overlap proving difficult to handle early on. The Imps made the corner pay, a well worked short corner routine eventually coming to Liam Cullen in the middle of the box who drove the ball low past David Stockdale in the Wycombe goal. Lincoln City 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers.
12/02/2022
Photo Credit – Josh Addison
The Wycombe defenders were in a physical battle against John Marquis, who was working hard to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into the game.
The pace of Lincoln City out wide was causing problems for the visitor’s defence who were being beaten by overlapping runs from the full-backs.
In the 26th minute, the ball came to the feet of John Marquis just inside the Wycombe box, but he was unable to get a shot away as the ball was eventually cleared.
On 37 minutes, the ball dropped to Lewis Wing outside the Lincoln City box, his half-volleyed effort strayed wide to keep the visitors goalless.
In first-half added time, the visiting side had what their best opportunity of the half as a Curtis Thompson long-throw is eventually cleared away by the Imps’ defence.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy got the crowd excited with the final moments of the half, cutting in from the right side to beat three men, weaving into the box. David Stockdale came out to collect the full-back’s heavy touch, preventing what would have been a goal of the month contender.
Lincoln took their one-goal advantage into half-time.
HALF-TIME: Lincoln City 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers
The second-half began even more aggressively than the first ended, both sides putting in full-blooded challenges as the Imps looked to match the physicality of Ainsworth’s side.
The Lincoln fans matched the intensity, lifting the atmosphere and getting behind Appleton’s side.
Photo Credit – Josh Addison
Bramall was shown a yellow card just after an hour, following a full-blooded challenge on Wycombe midfielder, Josh Scowen.
On 70 minutes, a Regan Poole’s clearance from a Wycombe free-kick found Marquis free in the Wycombe half, he attempted to play the ball through to the rushing Anthony Scully, but there was slightly too much on the pass and the move came to nothing.
Wycombe were relying predominantly on long-balls and set-pieces, as Michael Appleton had expected from the visiting opposition, ahead of the fixture.
As Lincoln committed numbers forward to get a second, Wycombe were able to break. In the 85th minute, defender Chris Forino broke into the Lincoln box unmarked, he met a cross and headed the ball past a diving Josh Griffiths. Lincoln City 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers
In added-time, Wycombe midfielder, Josh Scowen was sent off for a second bookable offence. The Imps’ fans roared with delight, in a game that they felt the decisions had gone against them.
A late attack by the visitors had Lincoln worried as the defence failed to clear the ball. Brave blocks kept the ball out as Griffiths was eventually able to collect.
FULL TIME: Lincoln City 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers
The visiting opposition would have been the happier side at full-time, their late equaliser coming generally against the flow of the game. Appleton’s side will be frustrated at conceding late on.
Lincoln will be hoping to pick up a win in their next game, when they face bottom of the table Doncaster Rovers.