Modified approach paying dividends for Lincoln

Lincoln City have begun life in League One in perfect fashion - and a slightly altered approach from the Imps has so far met with success. 

The Imps have recorded two wins from their opening two league matches: a routine victory over Accrington Stanley at Sincil Bank, followed up by an impressive away win over promotion hopefuls Rotherham United.

It has been an impressive start, and Danny Cowley’s side have yet to concede a goal this season.

A less direct style of play?

Throughout the phenomenal rise under the Cowley brothers, their style of play, at times, has come under criticism. A somewhat direct, but effective approach has been under scrutiny for a few seasons.

Regardless of how Lincoln play their football, they win games, and a lot of them, with the club going through one of, if not the most, successful periods in the clubs 135-year history.

Going back to last season, Imps fans knew that going forward, they would need to adapt and evolve their attack. It was noticeable when they played Blackburn in the Carabao Cup. Slick, attacking build-up play was synonymous with how Rovers were able to open up City on numerous occasions.

In terms of the personnel at the club, Lincoln didn’t necessarily have the calibre of player to replicate such fluidity. It’s been a slow progression from the Cowleys, but they too recognised it was probably one of the main reasons his side fell short in the play-offs on the club's return to League Two in 2017/18. The preceding season is where fans and analysts started to notice a subtle change in the attacking mentality at Lincoln City.
 
Granted, target men John Akinde and Matt Rhead still allowed for the long ball, but Lincoln’s directness began to diminish. The Imps started to utilise wingers such as Harry Anderson and Bruno Andrade, who then formed partnerships with full-backs Harry Toffolo and Neal Eardley. These pairings became a staple point of the Imps attack and are still a major influence.
 
City rounded off the League Two title in stylish fashion having led for the majority of the season. It was a combination of being able to create opportunities both in the air and on the ground, which showcased the Cowleys proactiveness in their rise through the divisions.

Stepping up a level
 
Ahead of the new season, Lincoln would need to continue to evolve as the standard in League One is a different proposition.

The recruitment over the summer was a perfect example of the way City have modified their approach. The arrivals of Joe Morrell, Jack Payne and Jorge Grant demonstrate the changes Lincoln have undergone, as all of the above players thrive with the ball at their feet. Their first instinct is to look up and assess whether there is pass open for them to make. In the past, it became all too comfortable for Lincoln to resort to the long ball and play for knockdowns instead of manufacturing an opening through a sequence of passes.

Through open play, Lincoln have looked excellent in their build-up with the ability to control the game very evident. Standout performers so far this season have been Joe Morrell and Jack Payne who in the league have passing accuracies of 76% and 78% respectively.

As it happens, despite the Cowley’s shifting the overall attacking dynamic, they haven’t lost focus on the importance of set-pieces. Lincoln have scored two goals from corners already with Michael O’Connor and Harry Anderson the beneficiaries of Jorge Grant’s great delivery. It’s fair to say that O’Connor and Anderson haven’t built their careers on their aerial presence, but the Cowley’s succinct focus on set-pieces allows everyone to potentially find themselves on the scoresheet.

The stats speak for themselves, with Lincoln recording 56 league goals from dead-balls since the start of the 2017 season. This ranks fourth-best in the EFL, and it is a testament to the Cowley’s acknowledgement of just how important they are. 

🗣 "We are pleased with the start but as always, we will not get carried away."

Danny is looking forward to Saturday's return to Sincil Bank👇

— Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) August 15, 2019

Deadly from close range

In the early stages of Danny Cowley’s management of Lincoln City, one of the first areas he highlighted was the significance of how many first-time shots are scored inside 12 yards. All four of Lincoln’s league goals this season have come inside the penalty area, and you can add Harry Anderson’s well-timed volley against Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup which was also converted from close range.
 
There is a real balance to Lincoln and the way they are attacking. The new additions in midfield have brought composure, and Michael O’Connor has benefitted from this. Last season Imps fans didn’t quite get to witness his full potential, but O’Connor has been brilliant in every game he has featured in. He has players around him that are constantly moving and wanting the ball. He’s been a different player because of it.
 
Whilst Lincoln have modified their approach going forward, one aspect that has remained consistent is the defence. Under the Cowley’s, City have been typically difficult to score against. This season is no different, with Michael Bostwick and Cian Bolger spearheading a stringent back four which has proved to be impenetrable for Accrington, Rotherham and even Championship outfit Huddersfield. The aforementioned Harry Toffolo and Neal Eardley are two of the best full-backs Lincoln have had for a long time, and when he is fit, Josh Vickers is an exceptional goalkeeper.

Bolger excels...Shackell set to return
 
The player that has caught the eye the most has been former Fleetwood Town defender Cian Bolger. Bolger, who struggled to get consistent game time last season, has been dominant to begin the new campaign. An impressive 91% of defensive tackles won, alongside an 85% of aerial battles won, indicates just how impressive he has been in Lincoln’s opening league matches.
 
More good news for Lincoln is that Jason Shackell is now available after serving his suspension. Unfortunately, one of Bolger or Michael Bostwick will likely fall to the bench, but, as a pair, they have shown to be a reliable and formidable combination at the back.

Winning three out of three to begin the season will make managing expectations an interesting task. There is a lot of optimism surrounding this Lincoln team and just how far they can go in League One.

One thing is for sure though, Lincoln’s modification of their footballing identity has been the driving force for their success. It’s still very early in what is relatively unchartered territory in England’s third-tier, so Lincoln fans must not get ahead of themselves as it’s a very long season with plenty of obstacles to overcome.