Under Schofield's management of the side, the Imps have capitulated from a side that put in a realistic challenge for promotion every year, to a side that will be relegated thanks to the stubborn Yorkshireman's inept tactics. Having lost more than half the games he has managed for the Imps he is severely under pressure from supporters and the 4-0 defeat at stadium:mk was the final straw for a lot of supporters.
City haven't struggled against relegation for several years, with the last realistic chance of relegation coming in the 2000/1 season when an equally incompetent manager, this time Phil Stant, caused the Imps to slip to 23rd on the back of 5 defeats in a row. Stant's record however looks like a nugget of gold compared to Schofield's manure heap these days.
Things started well for the Imps with Bencharif and Hand both coming close to scoreing witin the opening minutes of the game. However, the first half quickly turned in a half dominated by the hosts, but they wasted several chances to take the lead, whilst Oliver Ryan wasted equally good chances for the Imps. Infact, the final 10 minutes of the first half were all City.
However, then on the stroke of half time came the killer blow. Knight ran at goal and ran at Amoo, his powerful shot took a deflection on it's way past Marriott and MK had the lead.
Schofield's teamtalk typically did nothing for the Imps as City came out with a lack of heart and desire in the second half before Stallard was taken off because of a small injury. He was joined by Ryan as the two were substituted for Torpey and Warlow.
Frecklington got into a rare shot on target for City, but the Imps were lucky not to be losing by a large amount....but it was quickly 2-0 as Dyer easily found space and slotted past Marriott, the Lincoln goalkeeper continuing to let in virtually every half-dangerous shot that comes near his goal. This promoted Schofield to replace Hand with Forrester.
Schofield's hold on his job then took another dose of vaseline as Wright swung the ball into the box and Wilbraham shot powerfully past a flapping Marriott. And chicken grease was added to that grip when Knight easily ran free of the defence to make it 4-0 to the hosts.....the final nail in Schofield's coffin?
With protests planned at next week's defeat against Peterborough, Schofield's management in charge of the Imps could be nearly at an end, although his post match interview indicates he doesn't think so.
``I think we've been down this route before and my job is to continue working with the lads and trying to improve them and looking at every aspect to move forward. The club have backed me and are helping us to do that. Regardless of what job you do you wake up every morning and look at what you can do better. When you're winning games that confidence runs right through you but at the minute we don't have it.''
Schofield Out!
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