City made it four league home wins in a row with an impressive victory over Barnsley at the LNER Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Imps were ahead at the break thanks to Reeco Hackett's powerful strike but the visitors came back into it and equalised through Davis Keillor-Dunn. Michael Skubala’s side showed great character to instantly hit back, with Tom Bayliss putting them back ahead almost immediately, before Hackett wrapped up the points with his second of the game moments later.
Skubala made two changes from the side that defeated Port Vale in City’s most recent Sky Bet League One outing, with Bayliss and Dom Jefferies coming into the team. James Collins and Ben House were missing from the matchday squad after it was revealed the pair are set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injuries.
The visitors had the first chance of the game after three minutes when the Tykes recycled a corner through Patrick Kelly who worked a ball out wide, a dangerous delivery found the Barnsley captain Luca Connell, but he was too far out to generate enough power to trouble George Wickens.
The Imps’ first chance came on 15 minutes when a George Wickens clearance made its way to Jack Moylan who exchanged passes with Freddie Draper – making his 100th senior appearance for City - to go through on goal, but he was thwarted by great awareness from Cooper in the Barnsley goal.
Another chance came three minutes later, when a Tom Hamer long throw caused problems in the visitors’ box, it found its way to Hackett first before his sliced effort fell directly into the path of Draper, but he couldn't keep his effort down.
The Tykes had an opportunity after 26 minutes when a City move broke down deep into Reds territory, they wasted no time moving the ball up the field where it was picked up by Jonathan Bland and he in-turn played it into space for Vimal Yoganathan who cannoned an effort just wide of Wickens’ right-hand post.
City hit straight back with two opportunities of their own just a minute later, it started with a chance for Hackett as Cooper found himself a long way from his goal, the aforementioned Hackett had a sea of bodies between himself and the Barnsley goal, his shot rebounded off the goalkeeper’s gloves into the path of Adam Reach who took a man on and crossed back to Moylan who shot wide on the half-volley.
The Imps got the breakthrough after 36 minutes through Hackett, who had made a nuisance of himself throughout the duration of the first period. Hamer’s long-throw found Moylan, who picked out the run of Hackett and he unleashed a venomous drive that gave Cooper in the Barnsley goal no chance.
Barnsley had an opportunity to equalise deep into first half injury time, the visitors gained possession on the halfway line through Adam Phillips who fed a nice ball through to the right-hand side where he found Yogonathan, he then teased a curling ball into Keillor-Dunn who had his effort blocked by the Imps' defence.
It was the visitors who had the opening chance four minutes into the second half and it came after a long ball which was beautifully controlled by Reyes Cleary. He took on two retreating City defenders before firing it towards Wickens who parried it into the safety of his defender's feet.
The Imps’ first real chance after the break came in the 63rd minute when Reach and Jefferies combined down City’s left-hand side before the former sent a looping ball into the air inviting a leap from Draper who made connection but guided his header over.
The Reds got their equaliser in the 67th minutes through Keillor-Dunn, who applied a simple finish after being picked out by a sublime Bland delivery from the right flank.
The away side had barely finished celebrating when City retook the lead almost instantly through Bayliss, who latched onto a long pass from Wickens to lift the ball over the stranded Cooper.
The Imps weren’t done there and doubled their advantage on 71 minutes. Another Hamer long-throw was only partially cleared as far Bradley, who cushioned the ball back across for Hackett, who added his second of the game from close range.
With six minutes remaining, the Imps had an opportunity to put further daylight between themselves and their visitors, when Street picked up possession just inside Barnsley territory and drove through the middle before drilling just wide from 25 yards.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Ring, 89), Bayliss (Varfolomeev, 82’), Moylan (Obikwu 82’), McGrandles, Bradley, Jefferies (Okoronkwo 72’), Hamer, Draper (Street, 72)
Unused Subs: Jeacock, Towler, Ring
Barnsley: Cooper, Sheperd, De Givigney, Phillips, Cleary, Kelly, Watson, Bland (McGoldrick, 79), Keillor-Dunn, Yoganathan (Farrugia, 46), Connel
Unused Subs: Smith, Roberts, Vickers, McGoldrick, Rooney, Farrell
Attendance: 7,768 (737 Away)
Referee: Dale Baines