City made it a sixth match unbeaten in Sky Bet League One with a goalless draw against Portsmouth.
The Imps had a golden opportunity inside the first two minutes when Sean Roughan played a long ball over the top of the Portsmouth defence to Jack Diamond who could only poke his effort narrowly wide.
Diamond had another chance to open the scoring in the 11th minute as he twisted and turned away from Ryley Towler inside the area before flashing his fierce strike just past the far post.
Portsmouth hit back with a chance of their own moments later as a mishit shot was headed away by Regan Poole only as far as Ryan Tunnicliffe just inside the box who volleyed wide of the target.
The visitors looked more threatening on the counter and posed another threat from one when Reeco Hackett was found by Tunncliffe on the right before he cut inside and bent his shot inches wide.
Roughan sent another long ball forward which the Portsmouth defence struggled to deal with in the 39th minute as Plange wrestled the ball from Raggett inside the area before firing the wrong side of the post.
City hit the woodwork in the 58th minute when Danny Mandroiu took down Roughan’s sweeping cross on the edge of the area before striking a looping effort which bounced back off the crossbar to Shodipo who also couldn’t convert.
Just after the hour mark Pompey could’ve broken the deadlock when Joe Raffety’s low inviting delivery went all the way through to Ronan Curtis who had his goalbound effort blocked behind by Poole.
Shortly after the Imps had a penalty appeal waved away for a foul on Lasse Sorensen, Pompey put the ball in the back of the net through Dane Scarlett, but the assistant raised his flag for offside.
Colby Bishop almost added to his impressive goalscoring record this season with consecutive chances as he first drove an effort on the turn straight at Rushworth before skiing a big chance from close range over the crossbar.
Deep into injury time City came close again as Vernam's 25-yard drive was parried behind by Macey, before Diamond's resulting corner caused a scramble which Pompey cleared from their goal mouth.
The final opportunity of the encounter fell to Vernam again who forced a fine save out of Pompey's No.1 after Rushworth produced a superb save to deny Curtis one-on-one moments earlier.
City: Carl Rushworth, Regan Poole ©, Adam Jackson (Danny Mandroiu 20’), Luke Plange (Charles Vernam 72’), Ted Bishop (Lasse Sorensen 72’), Mide Shodipo, Ethan Erhahon, Paudie O’Connor, TJ Eyoma, Sean Roughan (Harry Boyes 76’), Jack Diamond. Subs (not used): Jordan Wright.
Portsmouth: Matt Macey, Conor Ogilvie, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Colby Bishop, Owen Dale (Joe Pigott 59’), Joe Morrell, Joe Rafferty, Reeco Hackett (Dane Scarlett 74’), Sean Raggett ©, Paddy Lane (Ronan Curtis 59’), Ryley Towler. Subs (not used): Josh Oluwayemi, Louis Thompson, Michael Jacobs, DiShon Bernard.
Referee: Ross Joyce.
Attendance: 9,906 (1,313 away).
