Second-half goals from Rob Street and Dom Jefferies secured a 2-0 win at Cardiff City to make it 18 matches unbeaten in Sky Bet League One.
Street fired his side into the lead early in the second period, before substitute Jefferies added to the scoreline midway through it, as City were rewarded for an excellent all-round team performance in the battle of the league's top two sides.
Head coach Michael Skubala made one enforced change with Jack Moylan, who was forced off the previous week with a dead leg, having to settle for a place on the bench. Ryley Towler came into the starting XI as a result.
The Imps had the first chance of the match in the fifth minute as a George Wickens kick found Ben House. He evaded Wil Fish but his powerful effort goes went over.
On 15 minutes, the first opportunity of the match came following a Tom Hamer long throw. It ended with a Conor McGrandles shot deflected behind for a corner.
Ivan Varfolomeev lifted the corner from the right to the far post. Sonny Bradley met the delivery well, but his header went over.
Two minutes later, another dangerous throw from Tom Hamer was flicked on before Joel Bagan put it behind for a corner. The ball bounced around the box from the corner but came off an Imps player for a goal kick.
With 21 minutes gone, Reeco Hackett won a throw-in close to the corner flag, which again allowed Hamer to cause problems. Hackett ended up with a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by home skipper Rubin Colwill.
Four minutes later, George Wickens was called into serious action for the first time as he punched away a cross from Ryan Wintle. He got a clattering from Ollie Tanner for his troubles.
Adam Reach saw an opportunity to try and chip Nathan Trott in the 26th minute from just outside the area, but the home keeper went back in time to hold the effort.
Not long after, a Hackett free-kick delivered from the left found the head of Hamer but the defender's header lacked the power to test Nathan Trott in the home goal.
The Imps were looking really dangerous every time they could fire a Hamer throw into the area. Reeco Hackett was denied as Will Fish blocked his effort.
On 33 minutes, Wickens was drawn into a big save. Rubin Colwill spooled up a shot for the home side, which brought the best out of the Imps shotstopper with a flying save to stop a shot which looked destined for the top right corner.
A minute later, Rubin Colwill, still confident from his previous shot, tried another powerful effort which Wickens was equal to.
It proved the last moment of note in a first half where the home side had more of the ball, but the Imps more than held their own and looked dangerous - especially from set-pieces.
The opener came on 55 minutes when Street did brilliantly to let Tendayi Darikwa's ball through find House. He then held off Fish and fed Street, who took a touch and calmly finished into a bottom corner.
The next chance came the way of Reach eight minutes later, when a clearance fell nicely for the left-back to try his luck from distance, but his effort was too high.
Withstanding everything the hosts did, City struck again on the counter-attack in the 73rd minute. Substitute Jefferies won the ball in his own half. Street then took it before sending Jefferies through to score his second of the season, as he cut in from the left and sent a low drive into the corner.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of the ball as the match went on, with Rubin Colwill firing wide - but there were plenty of bodies on the line for the Imps.
City were defending in numbers and restricting the hosts to shots from distance. When they did get close, Callum Robertson's 85th minute shot bounced back off him and went for a goal kick.
In the second minute out of nine added on at the end of the game, Towler went close and Tom Bayliss drew a save out of Nathan Trott.
Then, five minutes later, Jefferies cut in from the left again and struck goalwards but Trott was equal to it.
As the Imps continued to restrict the hosts with a determined rearguard action, the game eventually concluded and City went home with three more valuable League One points.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Jefferies, 68), Towler, McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Lloyd, 82), House (Bayliss, 82), Hamer, Varfolomeev.
Subs: Jeacock, Moylan, Oné, Elerewe.
Cardiff: Trott, Kpakio, Fish, Osho (Lawlor, 76), Bagan, Wintle, Robertson (Turnbull, 90), Kellyman (Willock, 67), J Colwill (Robinson, 67), Tanner (Ashford, 76), R Colwill.
Subs: Chambers, Scanlon.
