City had to settle for a point in an entertaining goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers.
The Imps had their first chance of the match after three minutes when Adam Reach launched a long throw into the middle of the box. It landed on a few heads before being gathered by the visiting goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.
Another long throw by Callum Elder lead to an early chance for City after six minutes but it was headed just above the goal.
A free kick outside the box after 13 minutes landed on the head of Dom Jefferies who lifted the ball above the other players in the area but was unable to reach the goal.
Rovers got their first chance of the game after 20 minutes when Alebiosu received the ball at the edge of the box following a corner, but it flew over the goal.
The visitors got a corner after 29 minutes which landed in the goal area, but George Wickens was able to punch away any danger.
Freddie Draper had a bouncing shot after 31 minutes. He managed to control the ball at the penalty area and kicked but it narrowly went wide with Pears having to dive to be safe.
The visitors had a chance on target after 36 minutes when Todd Cantwell took a free kick and fired it to the bottom left, but Wickens managed to make the save.
The Imps were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after 42 minutes. Reeco Hackett was not able to clear the wall.
Tom Bayliss delivered a corner in after 53 minutes when Jefferies ended up the ball just inside the goal area and struck it toward goal, but it was blocked, then cleared.
City made their first changes with Ivan Varfolomeev and Tanto Oloafe who replaced Bayliss and Draper after 60 minutes.
Rovers had a few corners in a row that all landed in the goal area, but none were successful. The visitors made two changes straight away with Kristi Montgomery and Afolayan replaced by Adam Forshaw and Jayden Fevrier after 67 minutes.
Atcheson was sent off after 69 minutes from two yellow cards following a tackle on Varfolomeev.
Hackett whipped a corner into the box after 73 minutes that had a few City players attempting to shoot but the ball went narrowly out of play.
The Imps made another change after 76 minutes when Rob Street was replaced by new signing, Mikkel Ladefoged.
After 78 minutes, City had another chance when some short passes were made in the box and found Oloafe who struck the ball, but it went just wide.
Blackburn made a change after 79 minutes when Cantwell came off for Jake Garrett.
A double change by the Imps was made after 87 minutes when Hackett and Jefferies were replaced by Mason Melia and Andrei Coubis.
McGrandles had a shot on the edge of the box that was launched toward goal but it lifted just above the goal after 90 minutes.
Rovers made another change after 91 minutes when Ryan Alebiosu was replaced by Lucas Houghton.
City had the final chance of the match when Coubis did some technical footwork which let him pass to Varfolomeev after 95 minutes. He shot but the ball was then deflected for a corner.
Imps: Wickens, Reach, Towler, Hackett (Melia 87’), Bayliss (Varfolomeev 60’), McGrandles, Jefferies (Coubis 87’), Street (Ladefoged 76’), Elder, Elerewe, Draper (Oloafe 60’). Subs not used: Gauci, Coubis, Melia, Honohan, Konak, Wheatley.
Rovers: Pears, Alebiosu (Houghton 91’), Atcheson, McLoughlin, Ribeiro, Morsy, Montgomery (Forshaw 67’), Morishita, Cantwell (Garrett 79’), Afolayan (Fevrier 67’), Gudjohnsen. Subs not used: Goddard, Houghton, Pates, Decandia, Garrett, Vare, Edmondson.
Attendance: 10,267