City stretched their unbeaten run in the league to eight games with victory in a thrilling clash with Peterborough United.
The Imps had to show real determination against the in-form visitors, who took the lead through Harry Leonard, but a Reeco Hackett leveller before a quickfire double from Tendayi Darikwa and Freddie Draper ensured a 3-1 lead at the interval.
Although Kyrell Lisbie pulled one back, Adam Reach restored the two-goal advantage before Darikwa added real gloss to the victory in time added on.
Head coach Michael Skubala named an unchanged side from the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town on New Year’s Day, the only change to the matchday squad was the addition of Lewis Montsma to the City bench as a replacement for Dexter Lembikisa whose loan spell from Wolves had ended.
The first opportunity of the game came after seven minutes as Tom Hamer’s long throw caused problems in the opposition area, the ball was cleared but recycled well by City and Ivan Varfolomeev’s effort went just over.
Just a minute later the visitors had a chance of their own when they played the ball around the midfield before Brandon Khela made a marauding run forward into a threatening position, he unleashed a shot from range which flew the wrong side of the upright.
Rob Street did well to flick the ball into the path of Freddie Draper who outmuscled the Posh defender to take himself one-on-one with Alex Bass but it was the visiting keeper who came out on top in the duel.
The visitors took the lead after 24 minutes when Khela unleashed Lisbie down the left-hand side, his whipped ball in was met by a sliding Harry Leonard to open the scoring.
The Imps levelled after 33 minutes through Hackett when a long ball up from the City defence was controlled well by the goalscorer before he shifted play out wide to Darikwa, who cut the ball back to the penalty area where Hackett made no mistake with the finish.
Darikwa saw an effort deflected narrowly over the crossbar after a Hackett free-kick was headed back across goal by Hamer.
Hackett lofted a free kick to the right-hand side where he found Hamer, who headed it back across goal. The ball fell at the feet of Darikwa who looked to turn from provider to goalscorer with a speculative effort that with the help of a deflection, narrowly rose over the bar.
City went ahead through Draper. who outmuscled a visiting defender to get on the end of Reach’s pull back, then fired home.
Darikwa, who had been largely responsible for pulling the strings in the first half of the match, scored a stunning effort to make it 3-1 before the interval with a first-time effort following Hackett’s lay off.
The first chance of the second period came when Conor McGrandles picked up the ball in midfield before looking up and finding Reach who again found space down Peterborough’s right-hand side. His ball found Rob Street in the six-yard box who rose highest but could not keep his header down.
The visitors pulled one back after 56 minutes through Lisbie who converted Brandon Khela's cross.
But there was an instant response from the Imps as Reach scored his third goal in as many games and continued his rich vein of form as he controlled a pass from Hackett before dispatching it into the Posh net, before finishing into a bottom corner with his right foot.
The impressive Hackett almost extended City's lead with an effort which stemmed from a trademark Hamer long throw. Bradley headed the ball on to Hackett whose looping effort just went over.
City grabbed a fifth goal in time added on through Darikwa. The Imps countered quickly from the Posh set-piece, and Darikwa ran the length of the pitch before finishing with aplomb.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach (Ring 78’), Towler, Hackett, McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Moylan 86’), Hamer, Varfolomeev (Jefferies 65’), Draper (Obikwu 65’). Subs not used: Jeacock, Montsma, Okoronkwo
Peterborough United: Bass, Johnston, Collins, Khela (Hayes 74’), Frith (Aderoju 60’), Lees, Lisbie, Leonard, Garbett (O’Brien-Brady 74’), O’Connor, Kioso. Subs not used: Bilokapic, Nevett, Lindgren, Dornelly
Attendance: 9,833 (1,680 away)
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Man of the Match: Reeco Hackett (chosen by Fun Farm)
