Lincoln City failed to win for the third successive game as they played out a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United at the LNER Stadium.
A first-half goal from Freddie Draper was cancelled out by James Gibbons just before the break, in a game where debutant Joe Gardner was also sent off.
Michael Skubala made three changes to the side which drew with Wigan Athletic, as Conor McGrandles, Reeco Hackett and Freddie Draper replaced Ethan Erhahon, Dom Jefferies and Jovon Makama.
Sam Clucas also made a matchday squad for the first time since his January arrival.
Bottom side Cambridge United travelled to Lincolnshire in search of just their second win in 12. They had also failed to score in their last four meetings with Lincoln, The Imps also won 6-0 in this fixture last season.
One of their own breaks the deadlock:
Neither side started the game with much impetuous to take it to the other. A scrappy opening ten minutes lacked quality and was largely dominated by fouls and free kicks.
On 11 minutes though it was Draper who nearly broke the deadlock, a deflected cross allowed the young forward to spin, slide, and volley goalward. Debutant Bishop though pulled off an impressive stop down to his right to keep the game goalless.
Then on 17 minutes, in the week where he signed a new deal for the club, it was Freddie Draper who found the opening goal. A corner swung into the penalty area landed at his feet, and after his first shot was well blocked, he thundered in the rebound to give The Imps the lead.
Missed opportunities costly:
Lincoln were well on top by this point and Tendayi Darikwa looked certain to double their lead on 23 minutes after being put through on goal.
In a strange decision, the wing-back chose to attempt a pass to Collins instead of going for goal, his ball was easily cut out and Cambridge breathed a sigh of relief.
Morrison’s poor clearance then gave Roughan a chance to play a delightful ball across the face of goal, but it was crucially cleared off the line by a combination of the U’s backline. Gary Monk’s side already looked like they could do with the half-time interval.
Although seemingly out of nowhere, it was the U’s who found an equaliser on 42 minutes. A positive run from James Gibbons gave him space to unleash a left footed shot, it seemed a comfortable save for Jeacock before a cruel deflection off the knee of Sean Roughan took it into the bottom corner.
In a flurry of late first half chances Josh Stokes then had a headed opportunity to give Cambridge the lead. His effort was well saved by Jeacock.
It was a poor five minutes that would surely frustrate Skubala, as his team had dominated the half but found themselves level-pegging at the break.
Stalemate second-half and debutant sees red:
Lincoln began the second-half on the front foot, Collins and Draper both having efforts fly wide of the post in the early exchanges after the restart.
Cambridge were still a threat and on 57 minuets had a good chance of their own. A clever reverse pass from Cousins found Stokes who’s deflected shot found the side-netting.
The golden chance then came for the Imps. With 74 minutes played Tom Bayliss floated a free kick into the 18-yard-box, a flick on left Paudie O’Connor with an unchallenged header at the far post, but he could only head wide.
Joe Gardner was handed a City debut with ten minutes to play, replacing James Collins, who was ineffective for much of the game.
Just five minutes into it though the worst possible happened. The 19-year-old flew into a challenge on the right-wing, catching Brophy late. After a few moments of deliberation and protests from the Cambridge bench, he was given his marching orders and shown a straight red card.
Gardner was visibly upset as he walked down the tunnel, but was given a standing ovation from those in the LNER Stadium. The Imps fans appreciated that was an honest challenge by the loanee.
Despite late Cambridge forages forward, City did well to hold on for a point in what was an entertaining afternoon’s football in front of 8,606 supporters.
It’s a point that moves Lincoln into 11th in Sky Bet League One, while Cambridge stay bottom. The Imps face a tough test next time out, as they travel to a Leyton Orient side who were only narrowly beaten by Manchester City this earlier in the day.