Negative tactics lead to Cambridge defeat

Lincoln's unbeaten start to the season is over after an afternoon of mainly negative tactics from Gary Simpson. Adopting the unambitious 4-5-1 formation, the Imps largely failed to trouble Maxwell in the Cambridge goal.

Gary Simpson changed a winning team, bringing four players into the side that came from behind to beat Forest Green last week.

City started well but neither could get a real foothold in the game and it took until the 10th minute for either side to really cause the other any hassle, with Alan Power's poor free kick being easily claimed by Maxwell. Cambridge had a goal ruled out for offside before Paul Farman saved with his face from Delano Sam-Yorke to prevent a goal....although the linesman did put his flag up about ten seconds after the pass to the Cambridge striker had been played.

Nolan hit a shot well wide of the target before Cambridge opened the scoring as Nolan failed to clear the ball and Berry smashed in from 12 yards to give the hosts the lead.

Tomlinson, playing as a lone striker, had a cross cleared before Newton's cross fell to no-one to end the half.

Taylor replaced Sam-Yorke for Cambridge but the Imps enjoyed lengthy spells of possession without really going anywhere. The 4-5-1 formation isn't a tactic you use if you want to win games, and if we want out of this division, we will need to be more adventurous away from home. It's annoying because it's not the tactic we employ at home and we have won all of our home games to date this season.

The Imps continued to offer nothing with a single striker so then, with 20 minutes to go and only one shot on target during the entire match, Simpson made a substitution as Sheridan and Miller were replaced by Dixon and Rowe. Rowe was straight into the action as he hit a volley well over the bar before Nolan's shot almost creeped under the bar. Rowe had a superb effort saved by Maxwell and the Imps were dominating.

The momentum didn't result in a goal though and Cambridge had two more goals disallowed. Despite not creating many chances, Cambridge were certainly causing problems when they did get anywhere near the Imps area.

As the game was reaching it's inevitable conclusion, Alan Power was sent off for the Imps as he was alledged to made a tackle with his sutds raised, meaning he will miss Monday's game against Wrexham.

The game finished 1-0.