City put in a performance of desire and grit to record victory over Burnley at the ProAmpac Stadium.
Mikkel Ladefoged, one of three players drafted into the starting XI by head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, marked the occasion with two goals to help seal the come-from behind victory after Andreas Hountondji's opener.
But Ben House got a deserved leveller just before the break, with Ladefged's two strikes coming either side of a Dom Jefferies stunner.
Andrei Coubis thought he had struck early again for the second Saturday in a row when he turned the ball home after Ladefoged had flicked a free-kick on. This time an assistant's flag was up to cut his celebrations short.
City were best to adapt to the wintry conditions in the early stages, with House and Hackett having half chances.
The visitors threatened when Andreas Hountondji tried to take on almost the entire home defence, although as he tried to slide the ball out wide it was intercepted by Adam Reach.
Reach was having influence further up the pitch moments later with a first-time effort, following a Coubis throw-in, which was blocked.
A dangerous Hackett cross from the right found House, but his effort was aide.
It needed a crucial interception off the line from Hackett to prevent No.3 turning the ball home form a corner after 24 minutes.
A scramble saw Jefferies and Hackett efforts blocked, with Wickens having to be alert at the other end to block a shot from Satpaev.
The visitors took the lead when Hountondji swept home from a corner after 39 minutes, but the lead lasted only a few minutes.
The equaliser came four minutes into time added on. Coubis' throw-in from the right went all the way through to the far post where House threw himself in to finish with his left foot.
The home side took the lead four minutes after the restart. Hackett's cross from the right almost fell for Jefferies, but as he struggled to get his shot away Ladefoged stepped in to sweep home.
From then the Imps took the game away from the visitors. The second goal came after 57 minutes when a Hackett corner was cleared only as far as Jefferies who struck a stunning first-time goal from just outside the area.
And, after 67 minutes, Ladefoged had his third goal of the game as he rose highest to reach a House cross from the right and cushion a header back across goal. It came a moment after he had threatened to do so, outjumping the visiting keeper but not able to keep his effort down.
The Imps controlled the closing stages, but survived a couple of scares.
Hountondji struck the inside of a post with a rasping effort came crashing back out, then they were awarded a penalty after 83 minutes.
But Wickens pulled off a great save, diving to his right to palm away Edwards' spot-kick.
Imps: Wickens, Reach, Coubis, Hackett, Ladefoged, McGrandles, Bradley, Jefferies, House, Elerewe, Konak. Subs: Gauci, Towler, Bayliss, Street, Olaofe, Elder, Varfolomeev, Ogbene, Oyegoke.
Burnley: Coudert, Walker, Alleyne, Hatate, Satpaev, Ekdal, Ramazani, Pires, Broja, Laurent, Julio. Subs: Weiß, Raghouber, Edwards, Roberts, Houtondji, Sonne, Castell, Brierley, Agyei
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 10,558 (1,410 away)