Under the Accu Stadium lights, Lincoln City showed the world why many think they’re going to win the League One title, with a resilient display that brought a point against big-spending Huddersfield Town and extended the unbeaten run.
After conceding twice in a horrible opening 25 minutes, we didn’t just edge into the game, we bossed it, against a side with a much bigger budget, and eventually got just rewards with a last-gasp leveller. With Cardiff City losing and Bolton Wanderers drawing at home with Doncaster, it meant the Imps moved a step closer to the Championship and extended the lead at the top of the table.
Lincoln lined up in a 4-1-3-2 system, with Rob Street and Alfie Lloyd leading the line, supported by Ben House, Jack Moylan and Dom Jefferies. Conor McGrandles anchored midfield, while Lasse Sørensen was absent, but Sean Roughan played.
City started brightly enough and created the first opening on three minutes, Adam Reach delivering into the box where Street’s header looped kindly for House, but his effort lacked conviction and was easily dealt with. Huddersfield responded quickly, Bali Mumba seeing a shot flash wide after the ball zipped across the face of goal, before Ryan Hardie punished a loose pass from House by shooting wide from distance.
The warning signs were there, and on 15 minutes the visitors made it count. Slack play in midfield allowed Hardie to drive forward, beating two defenders before finishing past George Wickens to give Huddersfield the lead. Four minutes later it got worse. A long throw from Roughan was not dealt with, the ball bouncing invitingly for Ryan Ledson, who struck cleanly from just inside the area to make it 2-0.
To their credit, City responded. On 28 minutes, a Tom Hamer long throw caused problems, and under pressure from Sonny Bradley, Josh Feeney turned the ball into his own net to reduce the deficit. That goal lifted the tempo, and the Imps began to build momentum.
Another long throw soon after led to chaos in the box, with the ball eventually falling to Reach, whose clean strike drifted just wide. Moylan then drove forward from midfield after being picked out by McGrandles, cutting inside from the left but firing over when well placed.
Huddersfield remained dangerous on the break, and City were fortunate when Lynden Gooch blasted over after capitalising on a sloppy giveaway in a dangerous area. Feeney had earlier gone into the book following a late challenge, albeit after the referee had allowed play to continue for an advantage.
As the half moved into injury time, Moylan again surged forward, only to be cynically brought down by Gooch, a foul that summed up the frustration in the away side as City began to grow into the game. It was silly from Gooch, Roughan was covering, and the resulting free kick almost brought a goal.
The delivery was nodded back by Bradley, and Moylan got a shot away. Wallace cleared away as it dropped towards goal, bringing the first half to a close.
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