Lincoln City extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games with a 2-2 draw at home to Wigan Athletic.
Paul Mullin gave the visitors the lead from a lightning-quick counter attack after 11 minutes. James Collins levelled the scores from the spot after half an hour, before Lincoln’s number nine gave his side the lead a matter of minutes later.
Just after half time, Callum Wright’s header levelled the scores once again, and both sides saw a man sent off in the final half an hour of the game. Christian Saydee was shown a straight red card for the Latics, then Rob Street was given a second yellow card ten minutes later for the Imps.
200-Club Collins:
Despite a bright start for the home side, it was the visitors who were on-top for the majority of the first half.
The Imps’ fell behind at home for the first time this season after 11 minutes. Sam Tickle caught a flicked header by Freddie Draper at one end, then launched the ball out quickly in the direction of Paul Mullin. The Wrexham-loanee outmuscled and outpaced Tendayi Darikwa into the other half of the pitch, before rounding George Wickens and finishing into an empty net in front of the travelling fans.
Moments after scoring his third goal of the season, Mullin nearly added a fourth to that tally. He was first to pounce on a misplaced pass by Wickens, but Lincoln’s ‘keeper recovered to prevent his side falling two goals behind.
The Latics created further chances in a 20-minute spell of dominance. Notably, Christian Saydee failed to convert a cross from the left flank and Morgan Fox saw his header saved by Wickens.
With half an hour gone, Lincoln’s first real chance presented itself. Ryley Towler was brought down in the area as Reeco Hackett delivered a corner into the box and referee Alan Young pointed to the spot. Tickle guessed correctly but failed to get anything on James Collins’ powerful strike down low to the goalkeeper’s right.
That was Collins’ 200th EFL goal.
Collins would give the Imps the lead four minutes later. Hackett played a corner short to Tom Bayliss, whose cross was flicked on by Towler. Collins reacted quickest, latching onto the ball and then placing the ball through Tickle’s legs from close range for his fourth goal of the season.
Ryan Lowe’s side kept the pressure on following Collins’ quick-fire double, but failed to create any meaningful opportunities to level proceedings before the break.
Red-Card Drama:
Just after the break, Wigan found their equaliser. Saydee’s looping cross was out of Wickens’ reach, leaving Callum Wright to head home at the back post.
The second half was a much less eventful affair then the first. The two sides were quite evenly matched and clear-cut chances were at a premium.
That was until Saydee saw red for a late challenge on Bayliss with 23 minutes left to play. Bayliss went down holding ankle directly in front of fourth official Edward Duckworth, arguing Saydee stamped on him. After a discussion between the referee and his fourth official, Saydee was shown a straight red card.
Ten minutes later, Lincoln also found themselves reduced to 10-men, with Rob Street receiving a second yellow. As he tried to bring the ball down, he caught Babajide Adeeko and could not complain about being sent off.
City ramped up the pressure in the closing stages, but couldn’t find a winner. The Imps’ failed to capitalise on an unforced error by Tickle, whose pass was delivered straight to Ben House. House offloaded to Oscar Thorn, who had his cross blocked by Jason Kerr before it could reach Hackett, who was arriving at the far post.
House later saw an effort beaten away by Tickle, before Frankie Okoronkwo’s rebound was halted by a sea of navy blue Wigan Athletic away shirts. Thorn then saw a looping header saved.
In the third minute of seven added, Dara Costelloe rattled the crossbar with his attempt from the edge of the D. Up the other end of the pitch, Adam Reach had an effort cleared.
Michael Skubala’s side face Burton Albion away in their next game on Saturday, September 13.