Lincoln City grabbed another three points this afternoon in a game we’re dubbing El-Mashico.
With both clubs sporting potato sponsors, Spud Bros and Nanna Tate, Freddie Draper chipped in with the winner to send the Imps shooting up the early Championship table. The Imps made nine changes to the side that were thrashed 4-0 at Bournemouth, and there were a couple of surprises. Rob Street, Ben House and Reeco Hackett started up top, with Mikkel Ladefoged and Freddie Draper on the bench. Tom Bayliss got the nod in midfield, alongside Conor McGrandles.
City fashioned the first opening of the afternoon after three minutes when Ben House was fouled, allowing Reeco Hackett to deliver a dangerous free-kick towards the back post. House met it and forced Daniel Iversen into a save, although the flag was already raised for offside.
Preston North End responded with a spell of early pressure, winning both a corner and a long throw in the fifth minute, but Sonny Bradley was there to clear the danger. City then enjoyed some good possession of their own, which ended with Hackett crossing towards Rob Street. A defender intervened just before the striker could reach it, turning the ball behind for a corner.
The hosts threatened seriously for the first time after 15 minutes. Alfie Devine saw an initial effort blocked before Andrija Vukčević lofted the ball back into the area. His cross began to curl towards goal, forcing George Wickens to tip it away.
Preston should have taken the lead two minutes later. Conor McGrandles misplaced a pass and, after Deji Elerewe headed the ball down, it dropped invitingly for Johnny Kenny. The forward had time to steady himself but failed to hit the target, lifting his effort over the bar.
Stanley Mills was next to test Wickens, driving forward from the right before shooting from the corner of the penalty area. His effort was heading beneath the crossbar, but the City goalkeeper reacted well to parry it over.
Hackett was penalised in strange circumstances after 25 minutes when he rose alongside Iversen and won the header without appearing to make any contact with the goalkeeper. The referee nevertheless awarded Preston a free-kick, leaving the City wing-back asking how the challenge could possibly have been deemed a foul.
Another promising opening came Preston’s way on the half-hour mark after they won possession from City. Devine advanced and squared the ball towards Kenny, but the striker could not supply the required touch and it rolled harmlessly behind for a goal-kick.
City carried a threat of their own and went close two minutes later following good work from Tom Bayliss. He found Street, whose deep cross picked out Daniel Oyegoke at the back post, but the defender could only direct his header over.
Hackett then had half a chance inside the penalty area, although he was unable to bring the ball under control and Preston eventually cleared. It still came at the end of another encouraging passage of possession from the Imps.
The hosts created two further openings before the interval. Vukčević lofted a teasing delivery towards Kenny after 38 minutes, but it sailed just over the striker’s head when even the slightest contact would have left Wickens in trouble. Devine then tried his luck from an angle 20 yards out, sending a low effort across the face of goal and wide.
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