Ben House and Dom Jefferies struck to send the Imps into the second round of the Carabao Cup in the opening game of the 2026/27 season.
It was Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw's first competitive outing as Imps head coaches, with the draw offering a true Championship test with a trip to Derby County.
The Imps started brightly, winning an early corner through Freddie Draper. And the first set-play resulted in the opening goal, as Ben House got a brilliant flick to Ivan Varfolomeev’s cross.
A second corner, won by Dom Jefferies after 10 minutes, came to nothing, but the pattern was set with the visitors particularly threatening from set-pieces.
Tom Hamer had long-throws from the right after 12 and 21 minutes, but neither came to anything. House's shot from distance was also routine for the home keeper Jacob Zetterstrom to collect.
George Wickens was not massively tested in the Imps net, but did well to block a Joe Ward shot at the near post.
City doubled their advantage after 23 minutes, and it was again a great direct passage of play from the Imps who countered quickly. Draper fed Jefferies, who timed his run and perfectly evade Charlie Taylor to inish with a low shot.
An intercepted goalkeeper clearance resulted in Conor McGrandles being hauled down in a central position outside the area, with Rams skipper Lewis Travis booked for his troubles.
Reach and Varfolomeev lined up, with the former trying to bend a low effort through a gap created by Tom Hamer vacating his position in the wall only to see the ball blocked by a home defender.
And it took a couple of blocks to deny House then Varfolomeev.
It took a wonder strike from Sam Szmodics to give the home side a hand in the game in time added on at the end of the first half, with him firing home from well outside the box
House broke through after 49 minutes and looked set to get a shot away, with only a last-ditch Taylor tackle denying him at the expense of a corner.
That was the first of a flurry of chances early in the second period for the Imps, with Jefferies unable to keep his effort down and a stunning poked interception from Sondre Langas to nip the ball from the toes of Reach just as he looked to fire home from a low cross.
City were required to defend with discipline as the home side pushed for an equaliser.
They largely held firm, with Elewere needed to block a Morris shot from just inside the area on the hour mark when the Rams finally fashioned an opening.
A sign of how seriously the home boss John Eustace felt the situation came on the hour mark as Craig Forsyth, Filip Bilbua and Max Johnston were sent on in a treble substitution.
City effectively soaked up the pressure and looked threatening on the counter attack.
House turned his man inside out before trying a left-footed shot that was destined for the top left corner before Zetterstrom tipped it over.
And, with just over 10 minutes to go, the Imps threw on three pairs of fresh legs themselves to provide more energy up front - with Tanto Olaofe and Mason Melia handed their Imps debuts as they came on alongside Reeco Hackett.
It was a really aggressive move from Cohen and Shaw, and Hackett skipped away from Travis straight away before getting a shot away which was held by Zetterstrom.
Moments later he also rose highest to win a header, though could not direct it on goal.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach (Elder, 88), McGrandles, Jefferies (Towler, 67), Street (Hackett, 79), House (Melia, 79), Varfolomeev, Elerewe, Draper (Olaofe, 79). Subs not used: Gauci, Coubis, Honohan.
Rams: Zetterstrom, Clarke (Sanderson, 45) , Langas, Clark, Morris, Szmodics (Salvesen, 80), Taylor (Forsyth, 64), Ward, Travis, Fraulo (Bilbua, 64), Blackett-Taylor (Johnston, 64). Subs not used: Vickers, Eaves, Allen, Smith.
Referee: Josh Smith
Attendance: 11.095
