A Sam Winnall brace either side of Aaron Webster’s 11th goal of the season ensured that Lincoln City succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.
Imps chief Steve Tilson named an unchanged side to the one that played out a dull 0-0 draw at home to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, with Mustapha Carayol completing his first full game since his return from a hamstring injury. There was also a place on the bench for Paul Musselwhite after Joe Anyon completed a loan move to Morecambe yesterday.
Burton boss Paul Peschisolido had to make do without centre half Nathan Stanton and January signing Calvin Zola, whilst Scott Malone joined them on the injury list, meaning Sam Winnall led the line on his own, with support coming from Jacques Maghoma and Adam Bolder on the wings.
Winnall opened the scoring in the eleventh minute, slotting a low shot home under Trevor Carson.
Webster doubled Albion’s lead shortly after the start of the second half, finishing from close range from Paul Boetein’s centre before Winnall wrapped up the points for the Brewers from the spot after Mustapha Carayol’s foul.
The Imps replied in the 82nd minute as Ashley Grimes hit his 14th goal of the season from the edge of the box, but it proved too little, too late for Tilson’s side, and they remain eight points short of his 50-point target.
The former Southend boss will face his former employers on Saturday, when the Essex side travel to Sincil Bank in what promises to be an emotional affair, with the Shrimpers’ support expected to number up to 1,000.