A first-half Reeco Hackett goal was enough for Lincoln City beat play-off chasing Huddersfield Town 1-0 at the LNER Stadium.
Michael Skubala, who has said he already has one eye on next season, made four changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Wycombe Wanderers.
Adam Jackson replaced the suspended Paudie O’Connor after the Irishman was sent off in added time at Adams Park. Ethan Hamilton and Joe Gardner also earned starts in midfield while James Collins returned to lead the line.
Huddersfield Town boasted two former Imps in their squad as Joe Taylor returned to Sincil Bank for the first time since scoring ten times in 19 games on loan for Lincoln last season. Long-time Imps servant Lasse Sorensen also returned after his summer move to the Terriers, the 25-year-old made 136 appearances for City across three seasons. He made the visiting bench.
A slow start:
It was Huddersfield who made the brighter start. Some slick passing football between their frontline allowed created an early penalty shout from the away end, but it was quickly waved away.
The Imps struggled to create anything of note early on, their only joy coming down the left wing with Sean Roughan advancing from left-back. He was Lincoln’s busiest man at both ends it seemed, making a crucial challenge to deny Josh Koroma’s shot inside the area on 23 minutes.
From the resulting corner came the best chance of the opening half an hour, it deflected out to David Kasumu and he sliced his volley well over the bar.
Set piece delight for Lincoln City:
On 35 minutes though it was Lincoln who hit the front. A Tom Bayliss corner to the near post was deftly flicked on by Jackson, and Reeco Hackett could not miss as he tapped home for his third of the season from a yard out.
Some may have argued it was undeserved, but it was Skubala’s team who suddenly had a lead to defend as they tried to see it out to half time.
Tom Hamer made a brilliant tackle just inside his own penalty area with half time looming, he denied Marshall what looked set to be a good shooting opportunity.
That saw the Imps through to the break and despite a largely frustrating first 45, Lincoln had their noses ahead at the halfway mark.
A professional second-half performance:
Josh Koroma had a speculative effort that curled over the bar to begin the second-half action. He and his Huddersfield teammates had struggled for end product all evening up to that point.
Sorenson was thrown into the action by interim Terriers boss Jon Worthington ten minutes into the second period, the returning Dane was given a warm reception from the 8,755 inside the LNER Stadium as he replaced Ollie Turton.
Taylor had his first sight of goal with 24 minutes to play, it fell kindly to the Welshman on the right-hand side of the penalty area, but his volley was mishit and well blocked by Hackett.
It was a disrupted second-half which suited Lincoln as they looked to see out three points under the Tuesday night lights. Against the run of play Jovon Makama stung the palms of Lee Nicholls with a well struck effort from the right-wing on 75 minutes.
It was a rare foray forward as the away side began to put City under pressure for the closing stages.
Taylor thought he might have his moment late on as he ran though on goal, but much to the delight of the Imps fans he was flagged offside.
Instead, it was his former side who saw the game out and came out on top. Lincoln earning a hard-fought victory over play-off chasing opposition.
It is a win that sees Lincoln remain 12th, but extends their unbeaten home run to four games. A tough trip to the capital awaits them this weekend as they face Charlton Athletic at the Valley.