Lincoln City failed to climb back into the play-offs as they were beaten 2-1 by new league leaders Swansea City bringing an end to their five-league game unbeaten run.
The Imps were largely the dominant team throughout but a first half Reeco Hackett penalty was cancelled out by a quick second half double from Moussa Yeo and Stephen Eustaquio.
Coming into this one Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw were looking to make it three wins in a row and made three changes to help make that happen.
Dominance rewarded
Andrei Coubiș, Tom Bayliss and Reeco Hackett all came into the side to form a fluid 5-3-2 formation, and it nearly worked instantly for the Imps as Hackett had a shot tipped wide of the near left post inside two minutes.
The hosts then continued to be the better side for the opening 20 minutes, before Swans goalkeeper, Lawrence Vigouroux, conceded a corner for taking eight seconds over a goal-kick.
Coubiș had a header blocked from close range as the shotstopper came searching before Hackett almost capitalised on a long bouncing ball but the Chilean stood tall to prevent the ball being lifted over him.
Hackett did eventually capitalise with his third chance of the game as he gave City the lead from the spot, after Freddie Draper was brought down from behind following a brilliant switch from Sonny Bradley.
That was last act of a first half that City dominated despite just 24 per cent possession as the hosts went in a goal to the good.
Gracious defending
Despite that, the visitors managed to find an equaliser just two minutes into the second half as Melker Widell crossed low from the right where Moussa Yeo tapped home from six yards out.
The game was then turned on its head inside five minutes of the second half when Stephen Eustaquio’s shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected and wrong footed George Wickens.
The hosts managed the game well from then on as Lincoln continued knocking on the door but couldn’t quite fashion a goalscoring opportunity.
Before the Swans nearly doubled their lead with 15 minutes remaining, as Widell narrowly bent a curling effort wide of the far-right post.
City continued at the same tempo as they still dominated the game before Mikkel Ladefoged couldn’t direct a header goalwards from a wonderful Hackett cross, before Ronald had a powerful attempt well saved for the visitors.
Ladefoged threatened again from a deep cross in the final minute of three minutes injury time but it was eventually cleared by the visitors.
That was what saw them see out a 2-1 victory and climb to the top of the EFL Championship in a game where they were largely second best.