Despite spending all of the second half with 10 men after Adam Jackson’s red card, Lincoln City hung on to another vital point against promotion-chasing Ipswich Town, once again defying the odds to maintain their unbeaten home record and draw 1-1 with the 2nd placed ‘Tractor Boys’.
Following a spirited 1-1 draw against Bolton Wanderers on Friday night, Mark Kennedy made only one change to his side, seeing Adam Jackson come in for the suspended Joe Walsh. They started the game in 17th place in League One.
Ipswich made three changes to the illness-hit team that came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Portsmouth. Freddie Ladapo, top-scorer Conor Chaplin, and Leif Davis dropped out, being replaced by Kayden Jackson, Sone Aluko and Greg Leigh.
Kieran McKenna’s side sat 2nd in the table at kick-off, level on points with Sheffield Wednesday in 3rd. The Tractor Boys have lost just 1 of their last 10 league games in 2022, and were looking to continue their form into the new year, chasing Plymouth Argyle at the top of League One.
First-Half:
The first-half fired into life with 5 minutes left, with a penalty shout for Ben House at one end, before a disallowed goal for the visitors and an Adam Jackson sending off at the other.
The game was even for much of the first-half, with both sides exchanging periods of control and each getting in behind on multiple occasions. Ipswich had the best chance of the half, just before 20 minutes had passed, when Lee Evans shot wide after being left to his own devices at the edge of the box for a corner.
Lincoln’s front three linked-up well throughout the half, with Ben House finding space behind the defence multiple times. The penalty appeal came from this, just prior to the 40 minute mark, as Cameron Burgess made contact with House in the box, but the referee judged that it wasn’t enough to warrant a spot-kick.
Ipswich threatened towards the end of the half, just prior to the hectic last 5 minutes, hitting the bar and having two shots blocked in a pinball situation following a dangerous corner. Sone Aluko was involved, as he was all half, attacking promisingly down the right-side for the Tractor Boys.
The lively Wes Burns was flagged offside, before he pinned a ball across the box to find Marcus Harness. He found the back of the net, but celebrations were cut short when the away fans saw the linesman’s flag.
The red card followed a couple minutes before the end of the half, as Adam Jackson brought down Kayden Jackson just outside the box. The Lincoln fans were furious, believing the sending off was too harsh a punishment for the foul, in what admittedly looked like a 50/50 decision for the referee.
In the three minutes of additional time, tempers flared in the stands, while Matty Virtue went straight down the tunnel after coming off injured.
Second-Half:
It was a messy and nervy second half at LNER Stadium, which saw Lincoln take the lead despite their red card, only for Ipswich to pile on the pressure and score an equaliser after 80 minutes of play.
Unsurprisingly, the second half started with Ipswich on top, dominating the ball and targeting the Lincoln defence. Sone Aluko, Kayden Jackson and Sam Morsy all had chances before the Imps took a surprise lead.
The referee awarded the home side a penalty just past the hour mark, after a Lincoln man was pulled down in a congested box during a corner. Jack Diamond slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, sending Christian Walton the wrong way.
Following the goal, Lincoln looked to wind the clock down, but the visitors began to make use of the man advantage. Kieran McKenna made a triple change, which included Conor Chaplin coming on. The Ipswich top scorer looked dangerous from the moment he came on, taking multiple shots and creating chances for others.
The Ipswich goal came with 10 minutes of normal time remaining, as Chaplin chipped a ball over the Lincoln defence, for fellow substitute Cameron Humphreys to slot past Carl Rushworth.
Ipswich controlled possession and really piled the pressure on the 10-man Lincoln, with Conor Chaplin and Freddie Ladapo both shooting good opportunities wide.
Then came the 9 minutes of stoppage time, and it was truly backs against the wall time for the Imps. However, the closest the visitors got to a winner was a shot sent high into the Lincoln sky.
Full-Time: Lincoln City 1-1 Ipswich Town
For the second consecutive game Lincoln City went down to 10-men, but managed to escape with a point. Mark Kennedy spoke of his team’s performance after the game, saying it showed “the character of the people” in his squad.
It’s a tenth draw at home this season for Lincoln, but a very good one considering the sending off.