101 brave souls and 11 limp Imps

In what was nearly unanimously agreed on the supporter's coach as the worst performance for many years, the Imps were fortunately to only lose 4-0 against a Port Vale side who could have easily entered double figures. City were 2-0 down within 3 minutes and it just got worse after that.

101 braved the cold, snow and two hour cross-country trip to Burslem to watch an Imps side who had improved in recent weeks, but it took less than three minutes to ruin the memory of recent improvements. Infact, it took just 22 seconds for City to concede in the first minute for the third time this season.

A ball through by the Vale midfield saw Pearce shielding it for Burch, only to then strangely attempt a back pass, Burch left it for a second and only then realised it would go over the line, failing in his attempts to make it back in time. It got worse quickly as a ball across the box found Rob Taylor completely on his own to make it 2-0.

So 2-0 after three minutes and it took a further two minutes for Vale to have another great opportunity. This time Herd was ajudged to have handballed it and the referee points to the penalty spot. Richards took it but Burch made his first (non-picking the ball out of the net) contribution of the match with a save.

One or two wasted opportunities later for the Imps and it was quickly 3-0. Vale broke after half-hearted appeals for a handball by the Imps, Collins ran down the wing, drew the ENTIRE defence and Burch out to him, before passing it to Davies at the back post to give Vale a 3-0 lead. Richards should have made it four within a minute but a Burch save prevented that.

Haldane shot wide of the target before a rare venture into the Vale half resulted in Pearce headed wide from a free kick. Lennon forced Anyon into his first save but two corners later for Vale saw another penalty appeal, but the referee wasn't interested as he didn't believe Pearce did connect with his arm.

Herd was booked before Broughton went off for John-Lewis. Herd had a chance cleared off of the line before Richards headed over from mere yards out to end the half.

City came out for the second half with a slightly improved performance and even started one or two chances, although John-Lewis wasted the best one of these when he shot wide from six yards.Pearce was soon booked.

Chances were actually few and far between but it 4-0 after the hour mark was John McCombe. Burch saved a Richards header by McCombe smashed it into the net. Keltie replaced Herd. Clarke replaced Kerr for the Imps and took over the captaincy.

The rest of the game petered out and Port Vale couldn't turn their dominance into what have been more deserved goals and 4-0 flatters City.