Mikkel Ladefoged got his first goal for the club to help the Imps earn a well deserved point at the ProAmpac Stadium against Southampton.
Southampton took the lead after Welington launched a stunner into the back of the net from outside the box before City made it equal towards the end of the match with a well-deserved goal from Mikkel Ladefoged.
The Imps started their chances off early in the opening minute when the ball was passed to Andrei Coubis inside box, who nipped round to fire a shot, but it got blocked. He collected the ball and crossed it back into the goal area, where the goalkeeper had to punch the ball out of play. City took their corner and it was close to entering the goal, but the away goalkeeper caught it on the goal line.
Freddie Draper got his first shot of the day after five minutes when he received the ball on the edge of the box. It forced Daniel Peretz to dive across his line, but the attempt went narrowly wide.
The Saints had an opportunity after 12 minutes when Kuryu Matsuki found the ball at his feet and made a shot at George Wickens who caught the ball with ease.
The Imps had another attempt after 15 minutes when Rob Street received a deflected ball just outside the goal area. He shot it to the bottom left corner of the goal but the away keeper was able to knock it away.
A cross by Coubis followed shortly after, after 17 minutes which was looking for a player to tap it in, but City could not get there in time.
Southampton got their first corner of the match after 21 minutes which skimmed across the heads of multiple players, but the Imps' defenders dealt with it.
Ivan Varfolomeev made a good cross to just outside the goal area after 27 minutes where it landed on the head of Street who hit it just over the bar.
Cyle Larin, for the Saints, had a header which landed just over the top of his target after 31 minutes.
City responded with a close attempt after 32 minutes when Coubis pinched the ball and ran down the right wing. He passed towards Ben House who was being defended by three Saints players so was unable to make the best contact.
The Imps had an eventful few minutes after 40 minutes with a few passes around the edge of the box and chances to go forward. Street decided to cross the ball in the middle where House was able to get a head to it but it lifted just over the top of the left crossbar.
Southampton scored after 44 minutes from a rocket of a shot outside the box. Welington took a chance and fired it into the top right corner of the goal, with no chance of being stopped.
Draper tried to make it even after two minutes into injury time with a lifted shot that had to be saved by Peretz, ending the first half.
The second half started with no changes and a lot of back and forth between the two teams.
City had a chance after 58 minutes when Draper fought to reach the ball after being grabbed onto and placed it into the box. House tried to find space, but the away defenders were in his way.
The Saints thought they made it two after a scrappy shot that hit both posts on either side of Wickens before he gathered it and cleared any danger after 60 minutes.
Southampton made a double change after 62 minutes with Leo Scienza and Larin replaced by Samuel Edozie and Divin Mubama.
The Imps responded with a triple change with Varfolomeev, Sonny Bradley and Street replaced by Reeco Hackett, Yunus Konak and Ladefoged after 63 minutes.
City made another two substitutions after 76 minutes when Conor McGrandles and House were changed for Tom Bayliss and Chieo Ogbene.
The Imps had a close chance after 77 minutes when a long ball from Wickens was headed back to outside the area, in the feet of Coubis. He fired the ball toward goal but it went over.
The Saints made a double change of Finn Azaz and Welington for Lewis Dobbin and Ryan Manning after 78 minutes
Ogbene was close to making the difference after 80 minutes when he went one and one with the visiting keeper, who was able to block the shot. A corner was given and City had yet another chance which landed right in front of the goalkeeper and Draper who fought for it before it went over the top of the goal.
Ladefoged found the ball at his feet at the penalty area after 83 minutes and he struck the ball at Peretz but it narrowly missed the goal.
The visitors made another change after 84 minutes when Matsuki came off for Nathan Wood.
City found the goal after 87 minutes when Ladefoged shot the ball towards the right side after a cross from Hackett.
The Imps found a few more opportunities in the final minutes but a draw was the final outcome.
City XI: Wickens, Reach, Coubis, Towler, McGrandles (Bayliss 76’), Bradley (Hackett 63’), Street (Konah 63’), House (Ogbene 76’), Varfolomeev (Ladefoged 63’), Elerewe, Draper.
Subs not used: Gauci, Jefferies, Oloafe, Elder.
Saints: Peretz, Bree, Stephens, Schlotterbeck, Welington (Manning 78’), Downes, Ward-Prowse, Matsuki (Wood 84’), Azaz (Dobbin 78’), Scienza (Edozie 62’), Larin (Mubama 62’).
Subs not used: Long, Abbott, Bragg, Fellows.
Attendance: 10,758 (1,534)
