EFL League 1
At Sincil Bank/The LNER Stadium
Lincoln City (0) 0
Charlton Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 8,160 (inc. 658 away fans)
Lincoln City:
Rushworth, Poole (C), Jackson, Sanders (Oakley-Boothe 79), O’Connor, House, Mandroiu (Garrick 63), Eyoma, Roughan (Robson 69), Virtue, Diamond
Unused subs - Wright, Vernam, Sorensen
Charlton Athletic:
Wollacott, Egbo, Inniss, O’Connell, Sessegnon (Clare 76); Rak-Sakyi (Payne 90+4), Dobson (McGrandles 88), Fraser, Kirk (Blackett-Taylor 76), Stockley (C), Leaburn
Unused subs - MacGillivray, Thomas, Morgan
Two below par, lower-table third-tier sides, plodded listlessly through this unspectacular, no frills, no thrills and mind-numbingly dull approximation of a game of football at Sincil Bank this afternoon.
It wouldn't have surprised anybody who was present to witness this grim encounter, that it eventually ended in a goalless stalemate... because if truth be told, it probably already had, long before the final-whistle finally sounded to put a crowd of 8,160 out of their misery.
If the Imps and the Addicks had carried on playing until midnight (possibly tomorrow), it's conceivable that neither team would have broken the deadlock.
Between them two out of sorts teams only managed to muster a single shot on target apiece in the first half and none at all after the break.
Charlton had the first chance thirty-five minutes in, when Miles Leaburn broke forward with intent into the Imps penalty area, but he didn't strike the ball particularly well and directed his shot straight at the Lincoln keeper Carl Rushworth, who spilled it, but recovered and clawed the ball back on the line.
But, had it already crossed the line though?
The celebrating Addicks players certainly thought so. The assistant referee couldn't confirm matters because he was several yards behind the run of play. There is no goal-line technology or VAR in League One... and bizarrely, the referee Robert Lewis, was otherwise occupied when the incident occurred, because at the precise moment that Leaburn was poised to shoot, the official pulled up injured and went to ground approximately thirty yards away from the action and would subsequently take no further part in the game.
The fourth official Abbas Khan took over the officiating duties, with what turned out to be hilarious consequences. Well, they did if you happen to have a particularly sick, twisted and warped sense of humour.
Khan made some unfathomable decisions (that frustrated and bafflee both sets of fans equally) and possibly had put a tenner riding on a goalless draw at Ladbrokes, when he ignored a brace of Charlton penalty appeals involving both Leaburn and Jayden Stockley.
Lincoln would have gone in a goal to the good at half-time had it not been for the agility of Jojo Wollacott, who did well to save Daniel Mandroiu's stoppage time volley.
Granted, despite their limitations in the attacking third of the pitch, where there was a woeful paucity of meaningful application, both sides looked more than capable of defending solidly enough, and guarded their respective goals well.
But goals win games. That said, a clean sheet and a point apiece, possibly wasn't the worse outcome for two lacklustre sides who're currently wobbling haphazardly just above the wrong end of the table, as Lincoln finished the day three points above the bottom four and Charlton two.
 |
| "Oi! Steward. Sit down!" |
Throughout the game, the ball was moved about briskly and plentifully, either side of the halfway line. But though there is obviously a time and a place for playing widthways across midfield and back (and back again); to actually win a game of football it is preferable to play towards the opposition goal occasionally too, while endeavouring to pass the ball to somebody wearing the same colour shirt as the one that you've got on yourself.
In conclusion, two teams had an off day and it was bloody horrible to watch, with only moments of comedic refereeing alleviate the boredom.
FT: Lincoln City 0 v Charlton Athletic 0
