Lincoln City and Portsmouth played out a 0-0 draw at Sincil Bank in a game that could easily have had six goals. The final 15 minutes were all Pompey, but the Imps defence held strong, Carl Rushworth produced a number of impressive saves and Colby Bishop will rue a glorious missed one on one to win all three points.
Six years to the day of Lincoln’s famous win against Burnley in the FA Cup, the Imps came into the day as one of only three teams in England still undefeated at home in the league.
Mark Kennedy was forced into making two changes after the Imps’ previous league game against Derby. Ben House’s red card in that game saw him sidelined, whereas Lewis Montsma received a three-match ban for an off the ball elbow during last Saturday’s Bristol Rovers tie, forcing two changes to what has been an unchanged eleven in recent matches, as TJ Eyoma and January signing Luke Plange came into the team.
Kick Off
Just as everyone at the LNER stadium was settling into their seats, Jack Diamond was already through on goal thirty seconds in. A diagonal ball over the top ball from Sean Roughan caught the Pompey defence napping, as Diamond was left one on one with keeper Matt Macey.
The Sunderland Loanee never seemed to completely get the ball under control and could only poke a tame effort past Macey’s post, a glaring opportunity missed for the Imps.
Diamond was causing major problems on the right flank and looked to have the beating of left back Conor Ogilvie from minute one. He again came close to breaking the deadlock on the ten minute mark, a quick stepover bought some space in the box before unleashing a low drive inches past the opposite post this time.
But by no means was it all Lincoln at this stage. Portsmouth controlled a good majority of the possession, and as Imps’ fans were digesting Diamond’s chance the visitors had one of their own.
Pompey worked their way into the Lincoln box and a game of pinball ensued, before the ball dopped to Ryan Tunnicliffe who volleyed just wide.
The Imps were then to forced to change their system, after Adam Jackson went down injured. It looked first like wingback Harry Boyes would come on in a straight (ish) swap, but Mark Kennedy and his staff changed their mind to bring on Danny Mandroiu, moving to a back four.
Mandroiu made little impact after his introduction and looked rusty as a result of limited playing time in recent weeks.
Due to the changes in the front line, the Imps were slightly out of sorts in attacking areas. Ben House’s pressing ability from the front was a big miss and Luke Plange didn’t show the same presence. Although he did have a couple of opportunites, most notably holding off Sean Raggett in the box before firing wide, the number 9 never really showed the same quality as House.
Both teams had a handful of goal scoring opportunites during the first 45, Portsmouth’s best came in the form of a curling Recco Hackett Fairchild effort that looked destined to find the bottom corner. But a lack of quality in the final third ultimately left the score at 0-0 heading into half time.
Second Half:
Danny Mandroiu return to the team didn’t start much brighter in the second half, after a crunching challenge from Tunnicliffe left him taking a minute or two to get back to his feet.
However, the Irishman then showed why the Mark Kennedy signed him in the summer, with a moment of quality from absolutely no where. He took the ball down on his chest on the edge of the box and then quickly turned to hit a half volley onto the crossbar.
It was looking like another afternoon in the 2022/23 season at Sincil Bank, with the Imps struggling to find that moment of magic to take the lead.
A moment of over eagerness by Paudie O’Connor nearly gifted Portsmouth the lead, as he over committed allowing Colby Bishop to turn him and play a ball across the six yard box to a waiting Ronan Curtis at the back post.
He looked certain to score but the combined efforts of Regan Poole and Carl Rushworth somehow kept the ball out of the net. To sum up the game to this point, Curtis’ effort was the first shot on target for either team.
Luke Plange was replaced on the hour mark to make way for Charles Vernam, leaving no recognised out an out striker on the field for Lincoln, as Jack Diamond moved into the position.
On the left, Mide Shodipo picked up where he left off at Pride Park on Tuesday, continuing his promising recent form as he always looked like a threat to the Pompey defence.
TJ Eyoma who was first thrust into the team following Montsma’s suspension and then into a back four after Adam Jackson’s injury, dealt with Colby Bishop well throughout the game.
Lincoln’s defence held firm into the dying moments of the game, much like they have on multiple occasions at home this season. Although Portsmouth can share the blame for the goalless draw, with Colby Bishop squandering a golden opportunity and Rushworth denying a couple.
Full time: Lincoln City 0-0 Portsmouth
The final bit of quality in front of goal was lacking from both teams in the end and the game arguably could’ve finished with multiple goals on another day. The Imps ended the day 14th in the table and head to Forest Green next Saturday.