There were no changes for either side at half-time as play resumed in front of a crowd of 10,267, including 1,435 visiting supporters.
Blackburn had the ball in the net within two minutes of the restart, with Cantwell converting from Morishita’s pass, but the flag was raised for offside. The visitors threatened again in the 49th minute when they released a player down the right, but his shot across goal was diverted wide, with Wickens adjudged to have made a save.
City won their first corner of the second half after excellent work from Bayliss, and the resulting delivery led to a major opening. Elerewe nodded the ball goalwards and Pears saved, before Dom Jefferies saw his follow-up cleared. The Imps came forward again four minutes later as Bayliss lifted a cross towards Draper, whose effort was deflected behind.
Tanto Olaofe and Ivan Varfolomeev replaced Draper and Bayliss on the hour, and City threatened again almost immediately. Reach released Elder down the left, but his cross was fractionally too high for Hackett in the middle.
A Blackburn corner caused a moment of panic inside the City area in the 67th minute and resulted in another set piece, which Afolayan headed down and wide. The visitors then made a double substitution as Adam Forshaw and Jayden Fevrier replaced Afolayan and Kristi Montgomery.
City responded with another opportunity when a cross from the left was met by Street, but he headed wide from a promising position. Blackburn were then reduced to ten men in the 69th minute as Atcheson made a late challenge on Street and received his second yellow card.
The atmosphere lifted significantly as the Imps attempted to make their numerical advantage count. Hackett delivered a corner in the 73rd minute which Elerewe headed down and wide, before Morishita escaped at the other end and drew a save from Wickens.
Mikkel Ladefoged replaced Street in the 77th minute and was involved in an excellent City move shortly afterwards, nodding the ball down before the move eventually ended with Olaofe shooting wide. Blackburn made another change moments later, with Jake Garrett replacing Cantwell.
Olaofe was fouled on the edge of the area in the 86th minute, earning Garrett a booking and giving City a free kick in a central position, 22 yards from goal. Reach took responsibility, but his effort struck the wall.
Hackett and Jefferies were replaced by Mason Melia and Andrei Coubiș in the 87th minute. Coubiș’s first long throw was flicked on by Ladefoged, but Elder was unable to direct the ball towards goal.
City continued to apply pressure as the game entered stoppage time, with the ball dropping for McGrandles on the edge of the area. He let fly and sent his effort narrowly wide. Blackburn then made a late substitution as Lucas Houghton replaced Alebiosu.
There was still time for a brace of bookings: McGrandles for a crude pull, and then one for them. From that, City broke; Coubis and Ladefoged teed up Varfolomeev, who shot wide. It proved to be the final act of the game, as City picked up a valuable point, that really should have been three.
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