WE’RE BACK IN THE GAME!
Appleton hails his side’s grit
MICHAEL Appleton’s satisfaction at Lincoln City side’s fightback against Blackpool was tinged with frustration.
The Imps returned to action after more than two weeks without a game due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp.
Prior to the outbreak, which saw two matches postponed, the Imps had slipped out of automatic promotion contention, while their play-off hopes had begun to look fragile.
Blackpool were one of the sides who capitalised on City’s inactivity and they looked set to inflict another blow to Appleton, taking a deserved 2-0 lead through Ellis Simms and Sullay Kaikai, who struck just before then after half-time.
The visitors wasted chances to put the game to bed and Lincoln made them pay with late goals from substitute Anthony Scully and Brennan Johnson.
Appleton was delighted with the spirit his side showed in the face of adversity, but was disappointed with the manner of Blackpool’s first goal for two reasons. He said: “They showed good spirit. It’s been a tough couple of months and a tough couple of weeks for everybody.
“I was worried about how we would be condition-wise. I said I would have to use all my subs and I’ll probably have to do the same again. Having said that, no excuses, the first goal has to be better than that. I thought we got let down by the ref. But even when you get let down, you’ve still got to react and think danger and smell danger. We didn’t do that.
“They executed the second goal well. To come back from that was really pleasing.
“The players are happy that they’ve shown enough spirit to come back against a side that are in decent form. I’m still a bit frustrated we allowed them to go into a two-goal lead, but
I’m happy we’ve shown sprit and belief to never give up.”
Appleton used all five of his permitted substitutes, making two changes at half-time and another three with 20 minutes left. One of the players to come on was Scully, who also set up Johnson’s equaliser.
“Some of the subs contributed more than others, but they definitely had a positive impact,” he added.
STAR MAN ELLIS SIMMS Blackpool
visitors had three early chances in quick succession as Simms fired into the side-netting, Kaikai forced Alex Palmer into a good save from a free-kick and Ollie Turton headed wide. The goal Blackpool deserved arrived after 37 minutes. The Imps thought McGrandles had been fouled, but play continued and Simms progames, duced a fine finish. Blackpool continued to look dangerous and the visitors doubled their lead with another fine goal three minutes into the second half. Jerry Yates showed great skill and vision to pick out a run from Kaikai, who found the corner of the net.
Lincoln stayed in it and pulled a goal back with 15 minThe utes left when Scully volleyed home after Chris Maxwell had palmed Harry Anderson’s cross up into the air.
Buoyed by the goal and with all five subs on, City levelled with six minutes remaining. After a patient move, Scully picked out Johnson in the box and he fired home from a tight angle.
The draw extended Blackpool’s unbeaten run to 14 but that was little consolation to boss Neil Critchley, who admitted it felt more like a defeat, having been in such a commanding position.
“It does [feel like a defeat]. We’ve been good when we’ve been leading, particularly away from home,” he said.
“We had some chances to go and score the third goal and we didn’t take them. I’m very disappointed to draw in the end.
“I think it was two moments that we didn’t defend well enough. I never felt our goal was under concerted pressure or massively under threat.
“I wasn’t standing there thinking ‘they’re going to score in a minute’, we just didn’t defend well enough. The game should have been over, we should have been 3-0 up.
“Overall, I’m not disappointed with the performance, just the result.”
LINCOLN: Palmer 7, Poole 6, Montsma 6 (Walsh 46, 6), Jackson 6 (Eyoma 72, 6), Bramall 6, Sanders 5 (Anderson 46, 6), Edun 6 (Jones 72, 6), McGrandles 7, Morton 6, Johnson 7, Rogers 6 (Scully 72, 7). Subs not used: Howarth, Long. BLACKPOOL: Maxwell 6, Turton 7, Ballard 7, Gretarsson 7, Garbutt 6, Embleton 6 (Lawrence-Gabriel 80, 6), Ward 7, Dougall 7, KaiKai 8, Yates 7, Simms 8 (Robson 83, 5). Subs not used: Husband, Thorniley, Ekpiteta, Moore, Holmes.