The Imps took a huge stride towards automatic promotion with a fine 4-0 win against a stubborn but limited Blackpool side at Sincil Bank.
The visitors had spells in both halves, and certainly didn’t surrender like Northampton, but once again the Imps just had too much for a team coming to the Bank. With Bolton winning, the three points are huge, with goal difference always a factor in a promotion charge.
City started with the same XI that beat Mansfield last weekend, while the visitors made three changes, with Tom Bloxham, Josh Bowler and George Honeyman coming in.
There was also a change from the advertised referee: Thomas Parsons was scheduled to be at the Bank, but former Premier League Bobby Madley took his place.
Blackpool’s afternoon began in strange fashion, the visitors launching the kick-off straight into touch, a moment that summed up a tentative opening at Sincil Bank.
The first ten minutes drifted by without rhythm. When a corner finally brought the first sight of goal for the visitors on ten minutes, George Honeyman could not capitalise, volleying well over from the edge of the area as City settled into shape.
It was Ivan Varfolomeev who registered the first meaningful effort for us on 13 minutes. Picking up a loose ball 25 yards out, he shifted feet and curled narrowly wide of Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s left-hand post, the effort just missing the top corner.
A minute later, Jack Moylan drove forward with purpose, committing defenders before sliding a pass into Ben House on the angle. House struck it early, but Peacock-Farrell reacted sharply, blocking behind for a corner. The delivery that followed was vicious, dipping under the crossbar before being punched clear under pressure.
Blackpool threatened from a set piece of their own on 20 minutes after Josh Bowler was adjudged to have been fouled by House on the edge of the area, tight to the right-hand corner. Bowler took responsibility but curled his free kick wide of the far post.
The game began to open up a little. Tom Bloxham forced a save from George Wickens on 23 minutes after which City struggled to clear their lines, and although the rebound sparked brief panic, Moylan eventually broke clear, only to be hauled back by Bowler, who became the first man into the book.
We should have gone ahead a minute later. Sonny Bradley clipped a clever ball over the top and House burst through the middle, but with only Peacock-Farrell to beat, he failed to make the clean contact required, the chance drifting away.
House was involved again on 28 minutes. Rob Street nodded down a teasing Adam Reach cross and the ball dropped invitingly, yet House could not quite bring it under control before the defence converged.
Frustration grew in the stands midway through the half, particularly on 36 minutes when Bloxham was booked for pulling House back, the third foul in quick succession from different Blackpool players. The resulting free kick was delivered with quality, but no red and white shirt could apply the decisive touch.
The breakthrough arrived on 38 minutes and it was probably deserved. A corner caused panic in the six-yard box and Conor McGrandles reacted quickest, nodding home from close range for his first goal of the season, a moment greeted with genuine delight from the Bank.
Tempers flickered before the break. The Lincoln bench were visibly unhappy on 42 minutes after a series of heavy challenges, one of which left Moylan grounded. Then, on 44 minutes, Reeco Hackett threaded a smart reverse ball into Street, but he could not find a way past his marker as Blackpool scrambled clear.
At the interval, City held a narrow but merited lead, having grown steadily into the contest after a cautious start.
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