Despite a spirited second half fightback in which they dominated, City suffered late heartbreak at Wycombe Wanderers as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against the in-form Chairboys.
The Imps were losing 2-0 at half-time, but goals from substitutes Justin Obikwu and Freddie Draper brought Michael Skubala's side deservedly level before the home side's 88th minute winner.
There was just one change made ahead of the game, as Ben House came into the starting XI with Draper making way.
There was a chance for Wycombe within a minute as Fred Onyedinma latched onto a long pass from home goalkeeper Will Norris and looked to catch George Wickens out with a chipped effort from outside the box, but it never looked like troubling the City keeper.
The Imps had an opportunity of their own shortly after, as Adam Reach was released down the left flank. He delivered towards James Collins, but the forward couldn't stretch far enough to reach it.
Following some City pressure, Tom Hamer made a near post run to reach Tom Bayliss’ delivery on 11 minutes, but couldn't direct his header on target.
However, the home side went ahead five minutes later, when Daniel Harvie latched onto Cauley Woodrow's pass on the left flank and delivered an excellent cross towards Sam Bell, who slid in to apply the finishing touch.
The Chairboys went close again after 22 minutes when Bell was picked out by his opposite winger Onyedinma inside the area and pulled it back across for the run of Woodrow, who was denied from converting inside the six yard box by an excellent challenge from Sonny Bradley.
City’s next chance arrived two minutes later when Collins took aim from around 20 yards out after controlling a pass from the middle, but his effort was wide.
Straight after, Woodrow looked to catch Wickens out with a powerful effort from distance. His strike was straight down the throat of the City stopper, who did well to hold onto the ball.
Then Bell latched onto Anders Hagelskjaer's long range pass before forcing Wickens into an excellent stop.
In the 33rd minute, there was good patient build up from City. Hamer drove through the middle before picking Collins out in the area. His shot on the turn was blocked before the ball broke for Conor McGrandles, who saw his low drive saved.
Wycombe enjoyed another attack soon after, with Ewan Henderson playing a clever pass into the path of Onyedinma, but he lashed wide from a good position.
After 39 minutes House won City's third corner of the game after capitalising on a loose pass from the hosts and seeing his cross blocked, but Bayliss' delivery towards the near post hit the side-netting.
The hosts doubled their lead just before half-time, as Jamie Mullins picked out the run of Bell who went through on goal and lifted the ball over Wickens to double Wycombe's lead.
There was a double change for City at the break, as Reeco Hackett and Jack Moylan replaced Frankie Okoronkwo and Rob Street. Both were returning from injury, with Moylan making his first league appearance since August.
Five minutes into the second period, there was brilliant play from Hackett after linking up with Collins. The former looked to bend an effort from the right flank into the corner but it went just wide of the target.
In the 53rd minute, Woodrow took aim from the edge of the box but slipped before striking. The ball fortuitously broke for Mullins who struck first time, seeing his effort held.
Bell then broke into the area before picking out Woodrow, who saw his goalbound effort hooked off the line by Hamer. Onyedinma looked to capitalise on the follow-up, but Bradley denied him with an excellent sliding challenge.
Reach picked out Collins on the left side after 58 minutes and he delivered a wonderful low cross towards House, but he couldn’t quite reach it.
There were two more attacking changes from City in the 63rd minute as they looked for a way back into the game. Draper and Obikwu came on, with Bayliss and Collins going off.
It took just a minute for Obikwu to score too, with his first touch! Hamer picked him out with a cross from the right which was finished expertly by the young attacker.
City were knocking on the door at this point and House was inches away from finding the equaliser. Moylan did brilliantly to glide through the middle before laying it off for the forward, who was desperately unlucky to see his effort from a tight angle go the wrong side of the far post.
Draper then had the ball in the net after Norris dropped Tendayi Darikwa's cross from the right, but he was judged to have fouled the keeper.
City were the dominant force for the majority of the half and continued to ask questions of Wycombe. Moylan picked out Darikwa on the right flank but his cross was slightly overcooked.
The Imps did draw themselves level in the 76th minute when a terrific delivery from Reach was met by Draper, who squeezed the ball past Norris.
Two minutes later, the Imps tried to take the lead, with Norris making an outstanding save to deny Draper his second and City's third. He met Moylan's free kick with a header towards goal, but Norris did enough to keep it out.
Woodrow had a golden opportunity to give Wycombe the lead against the run of play on 85 minutes, but slipped at the crucial moment inside the box, allowing Wickens to gather.
The Imps then went close again a minute after. There was brilliant play from Moylan, who drove down the left before picking out Hackett. He delivered low towards Obikwu but he couldn’t quite connect.
However, there was heartbreak for City as Wycombe regained the lead from a corner in the 88th minute. Jack Grimmer got the final touch, after City couldn't clear their lines from the set-play.
There were eight minutes of added time but City weren’t done, with Moylan has seeing his cross tipped onto the bar by Norris after 92 minutes.
Then, there was a goal ruled out two minutes after. A succession of corners saw Bradley convert from close range, but the referee ruled it out for a push.
The Imps continued to press but couldn't find the leveller that their second half display would have certainly justified. They return to action next Saturday when Port Vale visit the LNER Stadium.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa, Reach, Bayliss (Draper, 63), Collins (Obikwu, 63), McGrandles, Bradley, Street (Moylan, 45), House, Okoronkwo (Hackett, 45), Hamer.
Subs: Jeacock, Towler, Varfolomeev.
Wycombe: Norris, Grimmer, Casey, Hagelskjaer, Harvie, Henderson, Leahy (Huggins, 91), Onyedinma (Taylor, 80), Mullins (Boyd-Munce, 80), Bell, Woodrow (Fink, 86).
Subs: Lowry, Quitirna, van Sas.
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 4,872 (384 away)
