Adam Reach's first goal for the Imps set up an emphatic victory at Peterborough United.
Reach struck with a direct free-kick after 14 minutes, with Tendayi Darikwa and Justin Obikwu striking in the second half to stretch City's unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One to eight games and maintain the good start to the campaign.
Head coach Michael Skubala named the same starting XI that defeated Luton Town the previous Saturday, which meant five changes from the midweek Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea.
City were the first to threaten as Reach tried his luck with a fifth-minute free-kick, but home keeper Alex Bass was not tested.
Bass was made to work a little harder three minutes later when a good move down the right from the Imps led to Tom Bayliss getting a shot away from just outside the area. Rob Street and Conor McGrandles combined well, before the latter pulled the ball back from close to the byline to Darikwa who in turn laid it off for Bayliss - his effort was curling but Bass had it covered.
Three minutes later and the Imps were ahead, with a central free-kick around 30 yards awarded following a foul on Street.
Bayliss and Reach were stood over the ball. Reach stepped up and, instead of the usual dummy which is intended to unsettle the home defence, stood up to strike a left-footed effort towards the top-left corner which Bass could not keep out despite getting his fingertips to it.
It was no more than the Imps deserved, but Posh - buoyed by wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle after a difficult start to the season - were inevitably going to have a spell of possession.
They won their first corner after 22 minutes when Adam Jackson put Peter Kioso's cross behind. Their best chance of the half came after 25 minutes when Matthew Garbett's incisive pass sent Jimmy-Jay Morgan through - his first-time shot came crashing back off the inside of the far post.
City's pressing largely kept the home side pegged back, and created chances to double their lead.
A reach cross after 28 minutes was blocked by Garrett and looped safely into the arms of Bass, while Street saw a shot blocked a few minutes later after he cut inside his man after collecting the ball from Bayliss.
Archie Collins did not connect well enough with Kioso's left wing cross and Wickens was pleased to see the ball bounce down then wide, while Brandon Khela fired a shot wide under pressure from Bayliss.
There were no changes from either side at the interval, but the Imps were forced into a change early in the second period.
A shot from Collins hit Jackson flush in the face and, with referee Thomas Parsons stopping play as it was a head injury. Jackson had to come off, replaced by Tom Hamer. Ryley Towler came on for Freddie Draper at the same time. That brought a defensive reshuffle with a shift to a back three and wing-backs.
City doubled their lead on the hour mark, with Reach again involved as his cross from the right found Darikwa at the far post. He fired home with a low shot - Street was ready to turn the ball home, but was not needed.
There was almost a quick response from Posh, with Morgan meeting a left-wing cross from Thomas O'Connor well but seeing his effort go wide.
Morgan also saw a cross from the left cleared by Hamer, as the home side enjoyed plenty of the ball without creating too many dangerous chances.
The Imps maintained a real threat on the counter attack and via a targeted high press.
Street got away down the right after 67 minutes, but his pull-back looking for James Collins was intercepted.
And there were further chances for Collins as he got a cross in from the left which just evaded his team-mates, and Bass had to be out quickly to smother the ball as Collins threatened to get on Bayliss' through ball.
There were further changes from City head coach Michael Skubala in the closing stages, with Obikwu, Reeco Hackett and Ivan Varfolomeev coming on.
Obikwu in particular caught the eye with an energetic performance against a demoralised home defence, and was twice squeezed out of shooting chances within minutes of coming on.
But he did head home after 86 minutes to put any doubts over the result to bed. Hamer's long-throw bounced all the way through the area without anyone getting a touch, and the on-loan forward got himself ahead of Ben Woods to head home from close range.
He could have had an unusual second of the match when a clearance from George Nevett struck his foot and forced a save out of Bass.
There were eight minutes of time added on, with Varfolomeev trying his luck from outside the area when a clearance fell to him. His powerful shot was straight at Bass, who got his full body behind it.
That would have been a brilliant way to finish the match, but City could reflect on a job well done as they head into home games against Manchester United U21 and Exeter City in the coming week.
Imps | Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Jackson (Hamer, 53), Bayliss (Varfolomeev, 79), Collins (Hackett, 79), McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Obikwu, 71), House, Draper (Towler, 53). Subs not used | Jeacock, Okoronkwo.
Peterborough | Bass, O'Connor, Nevett, Lees (Odoh, 65), Mendy (Lolos, 84), Khela (Woods, 65), Collins (Okagbue, 72), Garbett, Kioso, Leonard, Morgan (Lindgren). Subs not used | Reyes, Johnston.
Referee | Thomas Parsons
Attendance | 9,943 (1,870)
