Lincoln City battled hard for a well-earned point against promotion-chasing Derby County at the LNER Stadium.
In a cracking goalless draw, Lincoln’s new loanee Joe Taylor shone as he went close on a number of occasions.
The Imps came into the game desperate for the win that would end their eight game winless run, dating back to November.
The good news for Michael Skubala’s side was that Reeco Hackett was handed his first start since October 21, after his long-term injury.
Derby travelled to Lincolnshire just one point behind the misfiring league leaders Portsmouth, knowing a win could lift them onto the table’s summit. The Rams form was the antithesis of their hosts, with only one loss in their last 12 league.
First-Half:
In front of a bumper 9,735 crowd the early goings were back and forth, with Lasse Sorensen teasing the Derby defence with a delicious cross, before the Rams created a couple of chances.
Curtis Nelson had a header safely caught by Lincoln shot-stopper Lukas Jensen before Conor Hourihane drove a powerful long-range shot straight at the Dane.
The pace of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was causing the Imps backline trouble as he played a neat give-and-go with James Collins to get in behind. However, the finish evaded the Guatemalan international.
Ethan Hamilton threatened with a free-kick in the 15th minute, in what was becoming an even game. His 30-yard effort was pushed wide by former City ‘keeper Josh Vickers.
The game slowed down after an electric start, but Derby top-scorer James Collins provided a spark in the 26th minute. He dispossessed Ted Bishop before charging down on goal, but Jensen was equal to his effort.
Ten minutes before the break, the lively Hamilton found Hackett in space on the left-wing, allowing him to cut inside and fire a decent effort at Vickers.
Then, Joe Taylor had two great chances in a matter of minutes. He charged from inside his own-half, with an explosion of pace to get one-on-one with the Derby ‘keeper. With just the finish left to do, he skied the effort into the travelling fans.
The Luton-loanee pinched the ball off Kane Wilson a moment later, again barreling down on goal, but again chipping the ball over the bar.
At the end of an exciting first-half, Wilson was booked for a late tackle on Ethan Erhahon, with the Imps convinced it was worthy of a red card.
Second-Half:
Despite Lincoln’s dominance just before the break, the visitors came out the better side. Louie Sibley saw a speculative effort roll just a whisker wide of the post and Max Bird smacked a shot just over the woodwork.
Derby remained on the front-foot as former Irish international Collins was slid in-behind. However, he couldn’t notch his thirteenth of the season, as his effort flew into the Stacey West Stand.
Prior to the hour-mark, Taylor got as close to a goal as anyone had, beating Eiran Cashin for pace yet again. He rounded Vickers and slid the ball towards the net. Miraculously, Cashinn recovered just in time to sweep the ball off the line.
Lincoln’s new number nine had another chance, leaping to head a Dylan Duffy cross just over the bar.
Referee Ollie Yates waved away Imps penalty appeals in the 68th minute, as Freddie Draper went down in the box. He booked the recently returned striker for simulation and his strike-partner Taylor for arguing, much to the fury of the home crowd.
It energised the Sincil Bank faithful as Taylor went close yet again a moment later. He received the ball from Bishop and curled an effort on target, where Vickers parried it away for a corner.
The Rams began to pressurise the City goal as time ebbed away. Paul Warne’s side had failed to score in only one away game so far this season.
Skubala brought on Jack Moylan for his home debut, replacing the energetic Joe Taylor, who should’ve had a first Imps goal to his name.
Derby were pushing for the goal that would put them level with the automatic promotion places. Hourihane went closest in additional time as he fired a long-shot just wide of Jensen’s goal.
Lincoln City 0-0 Derby County:
The goalless draw stretched Lincoln City’s winless to nine games, but that only told half the story. They had battled and tested a promotion-chasing Derby County side for the full 90 minutes.
It was only the second time this season that Derby had failed to score away from Pride Park, as the Imps recorded back-to-back draws.
Next week brings another difficult test for Michael Skubala’s men as Peterborough United visit the LNER Stadium.