City extended their unbeaten league run to 17 games with an outstanding 4-0 win over Blackpool at the LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Conor McGrandles popped up with his first goal of the season in the first half, before strikes from Rob Street, Dom Jefferies and Ryan Oné added further gloss to the scoreline in the second period, to cap off another memorable day for the Imps.
Head coach Michael Skubala named an unchanged side for the clash with the Seasiders, Tom Hamer was included in the starting line-up for his 50th City start in all competitions.
The Imps had their first chance of the game in the opening minutes after Adam Reach was able to break through and get a pass to Jack Moylan. Moylan attempted to cross the ball but there was no one to collect. A few minutes later, he was able to break through again with the rest of the attacking players, but his cross was deflected by a retreating Blackpool defender.
An opportunity was presented to Ben House in the 15th minute, who had flown down the left wing, past multiple opposing defenders. House then took his chance at the goal with a close-up shot heading for the top half of the net, but goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell got a hand to it.
The Imps were able to create difficulty for the opposition box again. In the 28th minute, House went close again, but he couldn’t get enough power behind his effort to trouble Peacock-Farrell.
After 36 minutes, the Imps got a free kick a fair distance away from the box which was taken by Reeco Hackett. The ball was passed around everyone in the box before it got cleared to Ivan Varfolomeev and Tendayi Darikwa who then crossed again which, with a few tackles, rolled out of play for a corner.
City took the lead with seven minutes to go until the break. Varfolomeev’s corner was turned onto the bar by Street, before McGrandles popped up from close-range, to make it 1-0 to the Imps.
The Seasiders had the first chance of the second half with 53 minutes on the clock, with Wickens forced to punch a dangerous delivery away following a succession of corners.
On the hour-mark, Varfolomeev took a long-range shot which powered towards the net but was just wide of the target.
Blackpool made two more changes after 69 minutes with CJ Hamilton and Karoy Anderson who came on for Hayden Coulson and Josh Bowler. They made another change at 75 minutes with Jordan Brown leaving the pitch for Joel Randall.
The Imps took a vital step to scoring all three points on 78 minutes after Street capitalised on a loose pass at the back to round the keeper and convert to make it 2-0. City were not done there and added a third when Jefferies popped up with his first of the season, after finishing off a fine passing move.
Things got even better when Oné netted moments after coming off the bench. Jefferies slipped the ball into his path and the forward kept his composure to roll the ball under Peacock-Farrell to make it 4-0.
There was still time for another opportunity, which fell to Adam Reach from a free kick in the fourth minute of added on, but his strike was just off target, as City ran out 4-0 winners.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Hackett (Towler 78’), Moylan (Jefferies 50'), McGrandles (Bayliss 87’), Bradley, Street (One 87’), Hamer, Varfolomeev, House (Lloyd, 86’). Unused – Jeacock, Elerewe.
Blackpool: Peacock-Farrell, Casey, Horsfall, Brown (Randall 75’), Honeyman, Fletcher, Bloxham (Ennis 46’), Coulson (Hamilton 69’), Bowler (Anderson 69’), Walters, Ashworth. Unused- Ravizzoli, Clarkson, Nwankwo.
Attendance: 9,812 (431 away)
Referee: Bobby Madley
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