A Jack Moylan brace helped City extend their unbeaten Sky Bet League One run to 10 matches, with a hard fought win over Burton Albion at the LNER Stadium on Thursday evening.
A crowd of 9,514 - with the largest home following of the season - saw the Irishman score in both halves to cancel out Jake Beesley's equaliser just before the break, as the Imps made it seven league games unbeaten at home.
Michael Skubala named an unchanged side from the 2-2 draw against Luton Town on Saturday. Alfie Lloyd - who signed on loan from Queens Park Rangers earlier in the week - was on the bench.
The first big chance went City’s way with just two minutes on the clock. The ball fell for Reeco Hackett at the far post after Hamer’s long throw was only partially cleared, but he could only hit a post from close-range.
It was Burton’s turn to attack just three minutes later, but a superb tackle from Tom Hamer thwarted them. Kyran Lofthouse intercepted a loose pass and fed Dylan Williams in the area, but Hamer came to City’s rescue with a perfectly timed sliding tackle.
Conor McGrandles was next to try his luck with eight minutes gone when he picked up a loose ball in midfield and took aim from 25 yards, but his effort cleared the crossbar.
The Imps looked to turn the screw against a stubborn visiting defence and Hackett was next to take aim at the Brewers goal on 25 minutes, but his long-range effort was blocked by Terence Vancooten. The ball broke for Tendayi Darikwa to strike, but his volley was off target.
The away side continued to carry a threat at the other end and Wickens was forced into a save with half an hour on the clock when Julian Larsson drilled a low effort from 25 yards out, after being picked out by Lofthouse.
Moments later, City had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Rob Street intercepted Udoka Godwin-Malife's weak header back towards Bradley Collins. Street looked to lift the ball over Collins with his header inside the box, but the Brewers keeper was able to deny him.
The Imps didn’t have to wait much longer for the opener. The game burst into life on 35 minutes when City took the lead through a super 25-yard effort from Moylan. The attacker picked up possession and drove through the middle before seeing his low drive hit a post and go in.
The joy was short-lived though, as the away side responded just two minutes later through Beesley. The striker was given the simplest of tasks to convert from close-range, after being picked out by Jack Armer’s cross from the left flank.
City survived a scare five minutes into the second half when Kyran Lofthouse arrived late to meet Kain Adom’s cross from the left flank, but thankfully he wasn’t able to make any contact.
The Imps regained the lead on 55 minutes through Moylan’s second of the contest. Good work from the Irishman initially teed up Freddie Draper inside the box and with Collins only able to parry his effort out, Moylan was there to capitalise on the rebound to make it 2-1.
Michael Skubala’s side looked to put the game beyond the reach of the Brewers and had a good chance to do so when Reach delivered from the left byline towards Street, but he could not get enough power behind his header and saw it saved by Collins after 65 minutes.
With 15 minutes to go foul by Vancooten on Draper presented City with a good opportunity from a free kick in a central position from 25 yards out. It was Moylan who stepped up to take on a hat-trick, but his well-hit effort was just wide.
That would prove to be Moylan’s last action of the game as Skubala shuffled his pack two minutes later. Hackett was also withdrawn, to make way for Ryley Towler and Dom Jefferies.
With eight minutes remaining, Alfie Lloyd was introduced in place of Rob Street, as the attacker came on to make his City debut. And he was instantly involved when the Brewers struggled to clear a Reach corner. The ball bounced up towards the attacker, who could not quite get it under control before the away side cleared.
With two minutes remaining, the away side were close to a leveller when Toby Sibbick met Lofthouse’s delivery, but he could only find the side-netting.
Lofthouse had been Albion's brightest player of the night and tried one more time to rescue a point for his side, but he was unable to test Wickens with an effort from the right flank, as City held out for a crucial three points.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Towler 77'), Moylan (Jefferies 77'), McGrandles, Bradley, Street, Hamer, Varfolomeev, Draper. Subs not used: Jeacock, Montsma, Ring, Lloyd, Okewoye.
Burton Albion: Collins, Godwin-Malife, Armer, Chauke, Vancooten, Sibbick, Beesley, Lofthouse, Williams, Larsson (Revan 69'), Adom(Tavares 80'). Subs not used: Dudek, Akoto, Kalinauskas, Krubally, Stutt.
Official: Matt Corlett
Attendance: 9,514 (302)