Brennan Johnson impresses once more for Lincoln City in end of season stalemate

Brennan Johnson impressed for Lincoln City as The Imps played out a goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon. With both sides destinies already decided before a ball was kicked, there was to be no last-day drama at the LNER Stadium.

With Lincoln having one eye on their playoff games against Sunderland, it was a testament to Michael Appleton that he went with a very strong line up resisting the temptation to rest players when injuries have already threatened to derail their season.

Brennan Johnson in particular had a bright game for The Imps and was at the heart of everything Lincoln did well on the afternoon. The Nottingham Forest loanee, who has been an outstanding member of Michael Appleton’s squad this season so far with ten goals and 12 assists, should feel a little aggrieved that he’d not made the EFL League One team of the season.

Johnson’s class on the ball was a feature throughout proceedings and although he’s had greater rewards in games this season, there is no doubt that when he is in the mood, he looks like a player that is capable of taking the step up into the Championship. A big decision awaits Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton in the summer as when Johnson returns, there will be a player that will be itching to build on his City Ground career having made an initial breakthrough into the first-team squad under Sabri Lamouchi.

If it wasn’t for some inspired goalkeeping, the Welsh international could have easily come away as the afternoon’s match-winner. The game was only a matter of being a few minutes old when the winger’s dangerous low cross was hacked away from The Dons defence as Joe Walsh prepared to capitalise from six yards.

It should have been Johnson that broken the deadlock midway through the half. As Morgan Rogers cut infield to float a ball in behind the defence, Johnson running from deep could only shoot straight at keeper Nik Tzanev who had done well to smother the opportunity.

Johnson was denied just a few moments later when another carbon copy move found him in space once more along the Dons left but this time his touch let him down when he threatened Tzanaev’s goal.

The 19-year-old thought he had opened the scoring in the 21st minute following an excellent flowing Lincoln move. As Conor McGrandles and Jorge Grant worked the ball from left to right on the edge of the box, a perfectly weighted pass from Grant fed Morgan Rogers in behind the Dons defence. As Rogers looked up to roll the ball across the face of the goal, Grant inexplicably nutmegged himself before Johnson smashed the ball into the roof of the net, only for linesman Lisa Rashid to flag for offside.

As City built up greater momentum towards the half, Johnson turned creator following a run into the Wimbledon box, his precise cut-back found Tom Hopper unmarked from 10 yards but the striker dragged his shot well wide of the far post. Johnson’s half wasn’t quite finished as he fizzed a half volley narrowly over the bar from 20 yards but his shot was always rising as he couldn’t quite get his body over the ball to keep the ball down.

In the second period. Johnson’s influence continued to cause The Dons a headache at the back. Some excellent play on the right-hand side saw his dangerous cut-back cleared and just a few moments later, Rogers once more got him in behind the defence. With his back to goal, Johnson superbly carried the ball into his path in one movement but once more Tzanev did well to block his clipped effort.

Johnson embarrassed centre back Will Nightingale shortly afterwards with a burst of pace that left the Dons defender trailing in his wake. As a ball in behind threatened to get Johnson away down The Imps right, he had all to do in a 20-yard sprint but he exploded past Nightingale and into the box to see his cross cleared.

With Jorge Grant looking stronger by the minute and striker Tom Hopper getting 76 minutes under his belt, Michael Appleton’s squad is building up to full fitness. With centre-halves Adam Jackson and Joe Walsh also returning from injury, Lincoln’s preparation for the playoffs against Sunderland will be all important in the coming weeks.

“It’s ironic that on the last game of the season, it’s the first time we’ve got everyone’s available.

“We’re in a good place now and that’s nice and people who needed minutes got minutes. It was good to make sure that all of our centre backs got 45 minutes for different reasons.

“Some of them, I didn’t want them to have any more. They couldn’t have had any more (Walsh and Jackson) because of the situation they’re in so hopefully we can get a decent week or so’s training in and look forward to a really good game against Sunderland.”

Wimbledon’s young starlet Ayoub Assal had a frustrating afternoon at the LNER as he struggled to affect the game given his recent run of encouraging form. Drifting across the pitch throughout the 90 minutes, Assal was well marshalled by the City defence which reduced his limited opportunities lot shine.

One first-half moment showed his promise as he skipped past full-back Tayo Edun only to fail to beat his man at the second time of asking. Assal’s sleight frame couldn’t quite get him physically past players when he initially threatened but more work in the gym over the summer could soon remedy that.

Despite frustrations to show off his attacking side of the game, the youngster wasn’t deterred in doing the uglier part of the game. On a number of occasions in the second half, the youngster showed tenacity to his game as he constantly pressed Regan Poole, winning the ball back on a few occasions to get the Dons moving further up the pitch.

Fellow 19-year-old Jack Rudoni and 23-year-old George Dobson both had positive games for the Dons and despite avoiding relegation, there should be greater optimism for next season with Mark Robinson’s more offensive outlook.

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