Matchwinner Rob Street feels the Boxing Day victory at Stockport County sends out a message to the rest of Sky Bet League One that the Imps mean business.
Street calmly slotted home a late goal from the penalty spot to seal the 2-1 success - a win which Street says shows City are ready to fight all the way to make the most of their strong opening half of the season which has now seem them bag 41 points from the opening 22 games.
He said: "It's a massive statement of our intent to the rest of the league of what we're about - we've had a great home record but we haven't had that statement victory away from home until this.
"We've been doing really well this season and it's not too much of a surprise to us."
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Street hailed the determination of his side to get something out of the game, having dug in and regrouped after the home side had equalised.
He said: "We dug in deep and kept it at 1-1, then got the winner at the end. This is one of the toughest places to come in the league against a very good team.
"Hard work is a non-negotiable in our team - we get in peoples' faces and are a horrible team to play against when we're at our best."
Street was pleased to give the travelling fans another magical moment as he got to celebrate his late winner with them - with the away supporters housed directly behind the goal he converted into.
He added: "I tried to get a clear head and was always confident and wanted to take it - you've just got to pick your spot and go with it.
"As a moment it's definitely up there, the fans were brilliant and kept us going so I'm delighted to help give them a good Boxing Day."
