Imps Cut Down By Blades: Sheffield United 3-0 Lincoln City

Sheffield United almost doubled their lead within a minute of the restart. The Blades carved City open and Rothwell met a delivery from Peck, but dragged his effort wide despite having what looked a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0.

There was a brief pause in play moments later as Wickens, who had emerged for the second half without a cap, asked for one to help deal with the low sun. He was soon called into action again when Brereton Díaz was released down the right and drove towards goal. His shot was saved, but Wickens could not hold it at the first attempt and City had to hack the loose ball behind for a corner.

The second goal arrived in the 52nd minute and effectively killed the contest. Chong broke into space, with Jefferies unable to track his run, and the Sheffield United man finished from a tight angle to leave City with a huge task.

Lincoln responded with a triple change on 62 minutes, with Konak, Ladefoged and Ogbene introduced for Draper, McGrandles and Towler. However, it was still the home side who looked the more threatening, playing with greater confidence following the second goal even if they were not creating a succession of clear-cut chances.

Elerewe and Brereton Díaz were both booked after 67 minutes following a bout of grappling at a long throw, before City fashioned a half-chance from a corner three minutes later. The ball was headed up into the air inside the box, but Cooper came through traffic to claim comfortably.

There was more frustration for the home crowd soon afterwards when Cannon went down following a challenge and Bradley leaned over to say something to the Sheffield United forward. Play was stopped as the incident threatened to boil over, although the referee managed to calm things down without further punishment.

Choudhury made way for McGuinness in the 73rd minute, before Sheffield United threatened again on the break. Cannon was the man to get the shot away, but Jefferies recovered superbly and produced an excellent block to deny him.

The boos returned two minutes later after House and Peck came together. It initially looked as though House may have committed the foul, but the referee instead showed the Sheffield United midfielder a yellow card. Bayliss then went into the book a minute later for a challenge on Chong, although there appeared to be very little contact.

The third goal arrived in the 77th minute. A free kick which City felt should never have been awarded led to Brereton Díaz delivering into the area, where Patrick Bamford met it cleanly and swept a fine finish beyond Wickens to make it 3-0.

As time wound down, the home side made a raft of changes, one of which was former loanee Oné, but at 3-0 down, City fans weren’t as keen to give him an ovation.

City had a couple of late flurries forward, a lofted Street delivery almost drawing a shot for Ladefoged, while Konak drifted a cross over everyone’s head. On 88 minutes, we should have had a goal: Elder’s cross for Ladefoged was good, and his effort was saved, before he sliced the rebound wide.

Cooper’s goal wasn’t really threatened in the dying stages, and the Blades were able to see the game out with ease to move above the Imps in the table.