City’s supporters stuck by their team throughout a difficult evening at the ProAmpac Stadium, getting behind the nine-man Imps as they suffered defeat against West Ham United.
The Imps faced an uphill battle after Tom Hamer was shown a straight red card in the thirdminute, before Conor McGrandles was also dismissed for a foul on Jarrod Bowen after 24 minutes.
City continued to compete Despite their initial numerical disadvantage, with Ben House lifting an effort narrowly wide midway through the first half.
The Hammers eventually made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time when Konstantinos Mavropanos headed home from a cross.
The visitors then struck twice in quick succession after the restart, with substitute Edvin Austbø finding the top corner in the 48th minute before Bowen added a third two minutes later. Those goals ultimately took the game away from the Imps.
Yunus Konak saw an effort blocked, but West Ham extended their advantage in the 75th minute when Pablo diverted a corner into the net. Tomáš Souček added a fifth four minutes later with a powerful finish into a top corner.
George Wickens produced a fine save to deny Joel Piroe late on, but Souček completed the scoring in the 89th minute to seal a difficult evening for the Imps, whose supporters continued to show their backing until the final whistle.
Imps fans were fantastic throughout, with supporters never giving up their loud backing even as their side were behind by several goals.
Imps: Wickens, McGrandles, Bradley (Coubiş 63’), House (Konak 63’), Elder, Hamer, Varfolomeev (Bayliss 73’), Elerewe, Ogbene (Towler 46’), Oyegoke, Draper (Street 46’).
Subs not used: Gauci, Reach, Ladefoged, Jefferies.
Hammers: Hermansen, Veltman (Souček 66’), Mavropanos (Castellanos 59’), Kilman, Morato (Austbø 46’), Engels (Walker-Peters 66’), Kanté, Bowen, Solomon (Golambeckis 59’), Pablo, Piroe. Subs not used: Areola, Taty, Mukasa, Scarles, Orford.
Attendance: 10,605 (1,307 away)
