The Imps secured a historic first win in the Sky Bet Championship since 1961 following a battling victory at Bolton Wanderers.
Ben House’s second half header from a Callum Elder throw-in was enough to secure all three points for Tom Shaw and Chris Cohen’s side at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
It was an even start in Lancashire, with the first real effort on goal arriving in the 12th minute as Ethan Erhahon laid the ball off to Josh Sheehan on the edge, but Ryley Towler was well placed to block the goalbound shot.
The hosts mounted the pressure and went close to taking the lead through crosses from the right flank, but Lewis Brunt’s teasing ball evaded the attackers shortly before Sam Dalby hit the edge of the left post from Samuel Iling-Junior’s delivery on 22 minutes.
City continued to battle and created an opening on 28 minutes as Conor McGrandles found Elder at the byline who cut it back for House, but he couldn’t find the required contact from inside the area.
George Wickens was then called into action just after the half hour mark as Max Conway dug out a left-footed cross into the centre which was met by Brunt and tipped over brilliantly by the City shotstopper.
Bolton couldn’t capitalise on the possession they had before the break, with Akin Famewo’s injury-time header held well by Wickens to ensure the two sides went in goalless at the interval.
The Imps began the second half on the front foot and could’ve taken the lead when Ivan Varfolomeev’s inswinging corner found Elder unmarked, but his first-time strike went wide of the right post.
Varfolomeev was involved again several minutes later when he won possession high up the pitch and forced Jack Bonham into a smart save down to his left, with the loose ball then scrambled clear of danger.
City took confidence from this and had another opportunity on 54 minutes as a deep cross in from the right was knocked back towards House who couldn’t keep his effort down from a few yards out.
It was the Imps who broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when Elder’s long throw from right wasn’t dealt with by the Bolton backline, leaving House to head the ball home into the far corner in front of the away end.
The hosts responded with a spell of pressure, with Kyliane Dong first denied by a good reaction stop from Wickens after he broke into the box before his two long-range efforts were well blocked by the City defenders moments later.
The Imps continued to frustrate the home crowd with their resilient defending, with Wickens doing well to keep out Ryan Hardie’s near post header from a Jayden Nelson cross as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Wickens then kept out Sheehan’s curling free-kick from 20 yards in the final minute of stoppage time to help secure a momentous victory in Lancashire.
Bolton: Bonham, Forino, Brunt, Sheehan ©, Dalby, Gale (Nelson 71’), Famewo (Larrazabal 61’), Iling-Junior (Dong 61’), Erhahon (Watson 80’), Conway, McAtee (Hardie 71’).
Subs (not used): Bazunu, Davies, Toal, Ritchie.
Imps: Wickens, Reach, Towler, Hackett (Olaofe 80’), McGrandles ©, Jefferies, House (Honohan 85’), Elder, Varfolomeev (Bayliss 85’), Elerewe, Draper (Street 65’).
Subs (not used): Gauci, Coubis, Melia, Konak, Wheatley.
Goal: House (66’).
Referee: Benjamin Speedie.
Attendance: 21,581.
