Burton Albion managed a 1-0 win to secure themselves League One football for another season and end Lincoln City’s good run of form. Despite heavy Imps pressure, a scrambled goal from substitute Gassan Ahadme was enough for the Brewers to leave Lincoln with the victory.
Before the game, Mark Kennedy made three changes from the side that won an impressive three points at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday: Adam Jackson, Max Sanders and Ben House replaced Sean Roughan, Matty Virtue and Luke Plange in like-for-like switches.
The visitors made a single change following a 0-1 loss to Derby County at the weekend, as Jonny Smith came in for Mustapha Carayol. Burton needed just one point from their remaining games to secure League One football for another season. They could do it tonight as long as other results also went their way.
The Imps were looking to extend their purple patch, which has seen the side go unbeaten in their last six games. On the other hand, the Brewers came into the game off the back of inconsistent results. Their away form has been bleak, with Burton failing to win in any of their last three fixtures away from the Pirelli Stadium.
First-Half:
It was goalless at half-time, in a game that could be best described as lifeless. The drab opening half saw only a single shot on target. However, the early Ben House effort, from a searching Regan Poole long ball, found the gloves of Craig MacGillivray.
Dylan Duffy had perhaps the best chance of the half, after ten minutes, as he shot from the edge of the box. His effort was fired just outside of the far post, almost scraping a coat of paint off the post.
From there the game descended into a slow, trudging affair. Burton Albion failed to register a shot on target, as the closest they got to goal was a Sam Hughes header wide of the post, from a nice corner.
The action was dry in front of goal, but Lincoln City found joy down the left-hand side. Harry Boyes, Dylan Duffy and Max Sanders put in multiple crosses throughout the half, but none of their play reached a Lincoln head in the box.
The Imps pressed well in the first-half, meaning their record of four clean sheets in five games looked under absolutely no threat. The Brewers’ attack was toothless at best, failing to even get in on the Carl Rushworth goal on any occasion.
Lincoln lacked an end product for their promising build-up play. The first-half was nothing to write home about, with Burton seeing no need to pressure the hosts while they only needed a point for definitive safety.
Second-Half:
A late goal was enough for Burton Albion to come away with all three points. After 79 minutes the ball found its way into a pinball melee in the box. Gassan Ahadme eventually provided the decisive touch, with an improvised swivel, before he poked the ball past Carl Rushworth from less than a couple yards out.
The half started in a different fashion to the first, as the Brewers came out in a much livelier manner. Jonny Smith proved the much needed spark, flashing a curling effort just over the bar before hitting the woodwork just moments later.
However, it wasn’t all one way traffic, as the Imps had a vital chance through Lasse Sorensen. The wing-back couldn’t quite reach the ball and divert it into goal, as it instead rolled past the post.
Carl Rushworth was forced into multiple saves during the second half, most often to deny Jonny Smith. The pattern of the second half was a more toothless Lincoln and a much more impressive Burton. The visitors came good on that when Ahadme reacted quickest to poke the ball home.
The Imps threw everything but the kitchen sink at the visitors in the last ten minutes, but numerous corners and a flailing Luke Plange leg at the far post couldn’t provide the equaliser.
Full-Time: Lincoln City 2-0 Cheltenham Town
After a close-fought game, Burton Albion secured the points they needed to guarantee League One football for next season. Lincoln City couldn’t add to their recent good form, ending a six game unbeaten run.
Mark Kennedy said: “We lacked bravery to play in the second half.” He thought his side lacked its usual character after the break, in what he said was a bad performance.
Burton looked a revived side in the second half, the complete opposite to the dismal performance they offered in the first half. Their single goal was enough to silence the LNER Stadium and add just a second loss to Lincoln’s still impressive home record.