Sam Hill
Lincoln City extended their unbeaten run in League One to 18 games with an impressive 2-0 victory against Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Second half strikes from Rob Street and substitute Dom Jeffries ensured that League One had a new leader on Saturday afternoon.
The Imps have now overtaken the Bluebirds at the summit and hold a two-point advantage with 11 games left to play.
Street found the net in the 55th minute after a hopeful ball was hit into the channel by Thomas Hamer, Ben House controlled and found Street in the penalty area who slotted home calmly from close range.
Then late on in the contest, Jeffries broke forward magnificently on the counterattack before finding the bottom right corner to cap off a stunning solo run to close out the game.
It was billed as the much anticipated “six-pointer’ at the top of League One heading into the afternoon. Lincoln’s victory saw them become the only side to complete the league double over the Bluebirds this season.
It was a true clash of styles in the Welsh capital, with the visitors comfortable to defend in their back five shape and absorb large spells of Cardiff pressure.
The Bluebirds held 73% possession in the opening half but all five of their efforts were from outside the penalty area in a frustrating half.
Meanwhile, the Imps found a lot of joy from set-piece situations throughout the afternoon, with Nathan Trott in the Cardiff goal looking particularly uneasy in his attempt to claim crosses.
It was an unorthodox set-up that Brian Barry-Murphy opted to start with, as Omari Kellyman began on the right-wing, Ollie Tanner on the left-wing and Rubin Colwill was deployed through the middle as the centre-forward.
It did not prove fruitful for the Bluebirds who struggled to hit their usual attacking groove – surprisingly given they are the top scorers in the division.
In the 67th minute, Barry-Murphy had seen enough and opted to shuffle his pack. A double attacking substitution was made with Callum Robinson and Chris Willock replacing Kellyman and Joel Colwill.
This allowed Tanner to return to his favoured side and Rubin Colwill back into his strongest position in an attacking midfield role.
Michael Skubala responded with his own attacking change as Dom Jeffries replaced Reeco Hackett.
Just five minutes after Skubala’s decision to introduce Jeffries, Lincoln had doubled their advantage.
Further changes for both sides followed, but the same pattern remained. Cardiff continued to dictate the possession but were simply playing around Lincoln’s shape and not penetrating.
Lincoln looked the most threatening side despite holding just 22% possession of the ball after ninety-nine minutes of play.
This result moves the Imps to the summit of the division and continues their impressive 18 game unbeaten run.
Meanwhile, Brian Barry-Murphy’s side are handed their first home league defeat since September and have work to do if they are to prevent a relentless Lincoln side from winning the league.