Clinical finishing from Birmingham City saw them claim all three points at the ProAmpac Stadium despite a spirited performance from the Imps.
August Priske struck twice for the visitors, with Tom Bayliss giving City hope midway through the second half before Alex Cochrane secured the points for Blues.
The Imps made a bright start and threatened inside the opening two minutes when a dangerous ball into the Birmingham penalty area caused problems for the visiting defence, who eventually cleared their lines.
Mikkel Ladefoged went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the area. The Danish forward struck a powerful effort which beat goalkeeper James Beadle but cannoned back off the far post.
City continued to press and created two further opportunities shortly afterwards. Ladefoged narrowly failed to connect with a cross into the six-yard box before Ivan Varfolomeev produced a driving run through the Birmingham defence, only to send his effort narrowly wide.
Despite City’s promising start, it was the visitors who took the lead in the 15th minute. Priske reacted quickest to a deflection inside the penalty area and directed a low effort beyond George Wickens into the bottom corner.
The Imps looked to respond and continued to ask questions of the Birmingham defence. Andrei Coubiș caused problems with a long throw into the penalty area, while Dom Jefferies produced a clever run into the box before being challenged as he attempted to create an opening.
City finished the half strongly and came close to finding an equaliser during added time.
A patient passing move on the edge of the Birmingham area created space for Jefferies, whose effort forced Beadle into a save. From the resulting corner, Deji Elerewe found himself with a golden opportunity at close range, but the visiting goalkeeper produced another important stop to preserve Birmingham’s advantage at the interval.
Birmingham made a change in goal at half-time, with former Imp Ryan Allsop replacing Beadle.
Wickens was called into action five minutes after the restart, producing a good save to deny the visitors from inside the penalty area.
City continued to search for a way back into the contest, with Ben House finding the side-netting before Jefferies saw an attempted delivery into the box blocked by the Birmingham defence.
Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw made a double substitution just before the hour mark, introducing Freddie Draper and Bayliss in place of Jefferies and Varfolomeev.
However, Birmingham doubled their advantage in the 60th minute when Priske grabbed his second of the afternoon with a low finish beyond Wickens.
The Imps responded positively and reduced the deficit just three minutes later.
Some neat interplay inside the Birmingham penalty area created an opening for Bayliss, who marked his introduction with a precise angled finish into the bottom-right corner to give City renewed hope.
The goal lifted the home side, who pushed forward in search of an equaliser. House tested Allsop with an effort which the former City goalkeeper gathered.
However, Birmingham restored their two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute when Cochrane struck an impressive effort into the top corner to make it 3-1.
City responded by introducing Rob Street and Chiedozie Ogbene in place of House and Reeco Hackett as they looked to find a route back into the game.
Ogbene was presented with an opportunity in the 80th minute when Allsop failed to hold the ball, but the winger was unable to direct his effort on target after turning inside the area.
Tanto Olaofe replaced Ladefoged for the closing stages, while Street also tried his luck with a powerful effort which was comfortably gathered by Allsop.
The Imps continued to push forward in the final minutes and created further openings, but were unable to find another breakthrough as Birmingham secured all three points.
Imps: Wickens, Reach, Coubiş, Hackett (Street 74’), Ladefoged (Oloafe 82’), Bradley, Jefferies (Draper 58’), House (Ogbene 74’), Varfolomeev (Bayliss 58’), Elerewe, Konak. Subs not used: Gauci, Towler, Elder, Oyegoke.
Blues: Beadle (Allsop 46’), Laird (Osayi-Samuel 75’), Neumann, Klarer, Cochrane, Tomoki, Jhon Solís, Roberts (Demerai 75’), Stansfield (Ducksch 88’), Millar, Priske (Bird 66’). Subs not used: Buchanan, Gardner-Hickman, Carlos Vincente, Vazquez.
Attendance: 10,551 (1,435 away)
