City extended their unbeaten run to five games with a hard-fought draw at Derby County.
The Imps went close early on as Jack Diamond played a clever one-two with Ted Bishop which opened up a shooting opportunity for the forward who rattled the outside of the post from a tight angle.
David McGoldrick looked to be a threat for the hosts and created a chance for himself in the 16th minute after he darted toward the City area before letting fly comfortably over the crossbar.
Derby began to grow into the game following this and were denied magnificently by Sean Roughan shortly afterwards as Lewis Dobbin cut the ball back from the byline to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing whose fierce effort was blocked by the defender.
City responded with a chance of their own as the ball broke kindly for Mide Shodipo who raced towards the byline, putting his pass narrowly behind Ben House in the centre. The frontman managed to recover the ball to lay it off to Sean Roughan on the edge who had his driven effort held by Joe Wildsmith.
Conor Hourihane was presented with a big opportunity during a tightly-contested first half as the ball dropped to him on the penalty spot following a defensive header from Adam Jackson, but the midfielder could only send the half-volley over the bar.
Mark Kennedy’s men took the lead just before the break as Lewis Montsma’s low fizzing effort from just outside the box was pushed into the path of Mide Shodipo who made no mistake before celebrating with travelling fans.
Jack Diamond found himself in a promising position at the start of the second half as he beared down on goal, however the pressure from Craig Forsyth meant the 23-year-old could only shoot into the gloves of the goalie.
City were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when House received a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on McGoldrick on the halfway line.
Paul Warne’s side continued to pressure the Imps following this dismissal and tested Rushworth when Mendez-Laing’s overhit cross from the right came to Louis Sibley whose effort back across goal was caught.
The hosts eventually got themselves level when a delivery from the left flank wasn’t dealt with which left McGoldrick’s to shoot on the turn towards Hourihane who finished it off from close range.
Hourihane almost put his side ahead five minutes later when his left-footed strike from 20 yards out bent narrowly past the post.
Despite soaking up a lot of pressure, the Imps managed to break forward in the 74th minute as Lasse Sorensen headed forward to Diamond who drove towards goal before angling his shot into Wildsmith’s gloves.
Montsma pulled off a last-ditch clearance to keep the score level in the 81st minute when Korey Smith rifled a low shot through the City defence and past Rushworth on an angle to leave the Dutchman to clear.
Sibley almost put Derby ahead in the third minute of injury time as his shot from inside the box cannoned off the underside of the bar, shortly before McGoldrick’s effort on the turn was saved by Rushworth.
Derby thought they had won it in the fifth minute of stoppage time as McGoldrick nodded in at the back post, but the linesman had flagged him for offside.
The Imps continued to fight hard throughout the nine added minutes and were rewarded for their efforts with a point on the road.
Derby: Joe Wildsmith, Craig Forsyth ©, Conor Hourihane, Eiran Cashin, James Collins (Harvey White 46’), David McGoldrick, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Korey Smith, Haydon Roberts (Louie Sibley 51’), Lewis Dobbin (Tom Barkhuizen 46’), Jason Knight. Subs (not used): Luke McGee, Liam Thompson, Tony Springett, Curtis Davies.
Goals: Hourihane (69’).
City: Carl Rushworth, Regan Poole ©, Lewis Montsma, Adam Jackson, Ted Bishop (Max Sanders 64’), Mide Shodipo (Lasse Sorensen 58’), Ethan Erhahon, Paudie O’Connor, Ben House, Sean Roughan, Jack Diamond (Luke Plange 76’). Subs (not used): Jordan Wright, Harry Boyes, Charles Vernam, TJ Eyoma.
Goals: Shodipo (43’).
Attendance: 25,829 (2,286 away).
Referee: Scott Oldham.
