Blue Saturday: Lincoln City 1-3 Birmingham City

Birmingham made a change at the interval, with James Beadle replaced by former Imp Ryan Allsop in goal, while referee Lewis Smith was late emerging from the tunnel for the restart.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the second half on 50 minutes, after Sonny Bradley’s clearance was charged down and Yunus Konak failed to clear the danger. August Priske collected possession on the edge of the area and tested George Wickens, who made the save. A minute later, Priske went down inside the penalty area under a challenge, but Smith waved away Birmingham’s appeals.

City were looking rather ragged in possession, surrendering the ball too easily, although they did create an opening on 55 minutes. Mikkel Ladefoged did well to control a long ball and find Ben House, who moved wide to create space for a shot but could only find the side netting. Reeco Hackett then produced some good work to create another chance for Dom Jefferies, whose effort was blocked.

Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw made their first changes on 58 minutes, introducing Freddie Draper and Tom Bayliss for Jefferies and Ivan Varfolomeev. However, just two minutes later, Birmingham doubled their advantage, with City failing to deal with a long throw and Priske sneaking in to poke the ball home. Wickens was left on the ground following the goal.

The response was almost immediate, with Bayliss pulling one back on 63 minutes. City worked the ball forward well, with Ladefoged involved twice in the move before laying the ball off for Bayliss to poke an effort home and give the Imps renewed hope.

Priske was replaced by Max Bird three minutes later, and City continued to look for a route back into the game. House did well to get down the left and cut inside on 67 minutes, but his shot lacked power. A minute later, Draper appeared to have his shirt pulled without a foul being awarded, allowing Birmingham to break and create a chance for Patrick Roberts, who shot wide.

Ethan Laird was next to threaten, finding time and space on the edge of the area before sending his shot narrowly wide. Birmingham then produced an excellent counterattack on 72 minutes after a mistake by Deji Elerewe, with Liam Millar racing down the flank and pulling the ball back into the area. Adam Reach was in the right place to clear off the line and keep City in the contest.

However, the visitors restored their two-goal advantage a minute later. Konak missed a header, allowing Cochrane the opportunity to strike from the edge of the area, and the Birmingham defender produced a superb effort to make it 3-1.

City responded with another double substitution, Chiedozie Ogbene and Rob Street replacing Hackett and House on 73 minutes. Birmingham also made changes shortly afterwards, with Bright Osayi-Samuel and Demarai Gray replacing Roberts and Laird.

There were a couple of half chances for the Imps as they attempted to reduce the deficit, including a hopeful penalty appeal from Ogbene, before Tanto Olaofe replaced Ladefoged on 84 minutes. A minute later, City won possession well and broke forward, with Ogbene feeding Street, but the striker’s effort was poor and went straight at Allsop.

Birmingham continued to threaten at the other end, with Elerewe producing an excellent goal-line block from Bird on 86 minutes. Two minutes later, Gray squandered a glorious opportunity to extend the visitors’ lead, breaking clear following a City long throw but firing wide when one-on-one with Wickens.

Jay Stansfield was replaced by Marvin Ducksch on 88 minutes, before Konak was cautioned a minute later following an aerial challenge on Bird. The Imps were heading towards defeat, with Birmingham having made the most of their opportunities despite City creating a number of chances of their own.

The final minutes played out with a vocal visiting support, woken up after the third, singing loud as City were left ruing missed chances and maybe, a missed red card.