Lincoln City ended 2023 with a third consecutive defeat, losing to Northampton Town. The Imps had a man sent off for the second time in a week.
A first-half Jon Guthrie header and second-half Keiron Bowie strike looked to have won the visitors the points, but TJ Eyoma pulled one back. Paudie O’Connor’s second red card of the season killed the City comeback and condemned them to defeat.
The Imps were hoping to end a five game winless run and notch their first win in the month of December.
The visitors were desperate to rebound themselves after a 3-0 Boxing Day drubbing at Stevenage, but travelled to Lincolnshire without top-scorer Sam Hoskins, due to an injury.
A Lincoln player hadn’t scored a goal from open play since November 28, with the two goals since being an own goal by Reading’s Nelson Abbey and a Danny Mandroiu penalty at Derby.
First-Half:
A festive LNER Stadium crowd welcomed the two sides, for a game that started in end-to-end fashion. While Lincoln City couldn’t fashion an early attempt on goal, Marc Leonard fired just wide from about 25-yards out for the visitors within the opening five minutes.
The Imps were struggling in the final third, failing to muster an early shot despite set pieces, long throws and promising build-up play.
However, Northampton Town were struggling in the same department until Lukas Jensen was forced into a spectacular save as he sprung to his left to push a Leonard shot from the edge of the area just wide.
The Dane would be disappointed less than a minute later as Northampton took the lead.
On the half-hour mark, a cross came in from the right and Jensen came out to the centre of his box to catch it. The goalkeeper missed and the Cobblers captain Jon Gunthrie was primed to head it into an empty net.
Hakeeb Adelakun looked to equalise a few minutes later. He had a shot saved by Mac Thompson, before he turned down a pass to Ethan Hamilton or Lasse Sorensen only to fire the rebound wide.
Lincoln ended the half with a flurry as Guthrie turned away a dangerous pass across the face of goal by TJ Eyoma. Michael Skubala’s side entered half-time a goal down, as their visitors took advantage of the best chance they created.
Second-Half:
The second-half started with a tame long-distance effort from Jack Burroughs. Thompson got down well to his left to keep it out, but the Coventry City loanee didn’t force heroics from the Northampton goalkeeper.
Lincoln City created a couple more chances in a more energised performance after the break. Lasse Sorensen had a speculative effort from his own half saved before Adelakun forced a fantastic reflex save out of Thompson, as he drove a shot from the edge of the box.
Then, against the run of play, Northampton doubled their lead. Leonard cut the ball back to Keiron Bowie who curled a beautiful effort into the far corner and beyond Lukas Jensen.
The Imps reacted well though, as they pegged one back just a minute later, on the hour mark. TJ Eyoma got the decisive touch as a corner was turned in at the front post.
Michael Skubala’s side had a lifeline, as they were back in the game thanks to the first goal from open play scored by a Lincoln player since November.
However, their hopes appeared to be dashed as the Imps picked up a second red card in as many games. Paudie O’Connor was dismissed for an apparent elbow as he and a Northampton man both challenged for an aerial ball.
The sending off is Lincoln’s fourth of the season, and second for captain Paudie O’Connor.
The grandstand finish that was brewing seemed to be dashed as the home side played out the final quarter of an hour with ten-men.
City rolled the dice and made a triple change in the 85th minute, seeing Sorensen, Adelakun and Bishop make way for Dylan Duffy, Jack Vale and Ali Smith.
A strong Jensen save stopped Northampton putting the game to bed before injury time, as he stopped Tyreece Simpson on a full-blooded counter attack.
Despite chances in injury time, Lincoln’s ten men couldn’t find the finishing touch as their opponents leapfrogged them in the SkyBet League One table.
Lincoln City 1-2 Northampton Town:
Lincoln City fell to a third consecutive defeat for the first time since September, and the first time in the league this season.
Despite a second-half comeback, the Imps were forced to end December without a single victory. Paudie O’Connor’s red card stunted a resurgent charge, as the ten-men couldn’t find a late equaliser.
Northampton Town managed their first win over Lincoln since 2011, ending their year in victorious fashion.
Michael Skubala’s side start 2024 with a trip to Blackpool on New Year’s Day, looking to end their six game winless run.