Goals from Freddie Draper and Bailey Cadamarteri sealed victory at Cambridge United, as City set a new club record of 13 unbeaten away games in the league.
Both players came off the bench - Draper early after an injury to Ben House and Cadamarteri at half-time - to highlight the quality in depth the Imps’ squad now has.
The run of 13 unbeaten away league games beats a record which has stood since 1980, with the last defeat on the road in this competition coming at Blackpool on New Year’s Day.
Head coach Michael Skubala made four changes to the starting XI. Goalkeeper George Wickens had complete the return to play protocols following a concussion, with Erik Ring, Jack Moylan and Jovon Makama also coming into the side.
City were forced into a further change after an injury inside the opening minute. City had started with real intent and Ben House bravely challenged home goalkeeper Vicente Reyes to get on the end of a high crossed ball. In trying to head home, he connected with Reyes and was forced off.
Concern for House’s wellbeing meant there were five minutes on the clock before he was able to walk off and replaced by Freddie Draper, but there was relief all round that he was up on his feet.
When the play was back underway the Imps were again trying to get on the front foot, with Reyes doing well to stop a Moylan effort after seven minutes.
And moments later Draper was straight into the action after collecting a pass from Makama then delivering a cross back looking for his fellow Academy graduate which was only just ahead of him.
Reyes was the only goalkeeper forced into a save of note, and he held a Makama effort after 16 minutes. The City man had done really well, intercepting a sloppy pass then running at the home defence to get his shot away.
City’s players were enjoying plenty of success when running at the home backline, with Sean Roughan allowed space to meander into the area before a deflection took the power off his shot.
The Imps went ahead after 26 minutes having won the ball back in the final third. Moylan dispossessed Emmanuel Longolo on the right wing and had Tendayi Dariwka for company - laying the ball off to right wing-back inside the area. Darikwa picked out Draper who fired home a first-time effort.
City constantly looked dangerous and the most likely to get the game’s second goal, with a smart counter-attacking move between Draper and Makama sending the latter through on goal - with Reyes making himself big to block the effort.
Another counter move saw Draper find Ring with a long diagonal ball. The Swede did brilliantly to get on the pass and fire the ball back across goal, with Makama agonisingly just too far away from the ball.
Wickens was forced into his first save of the match after 42 minutes after Dan Nlundulu had turned Longolo’s low left-wing cross towards him, but it was a routine save for City’s No.1.
Skubala made one change at the interval, with Cadamarteri replacing Makama.
The home side enjoyed some early pressure in the second period, but did not do enough to force Wickens into a save.
City looked for the second goal to strengthen their advantage, with a key last-gasp interception denying Ring after Cadamarteri had flicked on McGrandles’ cross from the right.
Wickens did well to deny Michael Morrison just after the hour mark, after the centre-back tried to poke the ball home from a long throw.
City got the crucial second goal after 68 minutes. Adam Jackson had Cadamarteri and Tom Hamer to aim for with a long diagonal ball into the area - he picked out the former, and he calmly took the ball down with his chest into space and finished for his first goal since joining on loan from Sheffield Wednesday.
That goal effectively took the sting out of the game and, although the home side enjoyed plenty of possession, City were happy to allow that and try to hit them on the counter.
An assistant’s flag denied Draper a chance to claim his second, when Tom Bayliss found him unmarked at the far post, shortly after Tendayi Darikwa had an effort blocked.
And Tom Bayliss also went close in the final stages after collecting a lay-off from Paudie O’Connor.
Imps: George Wickens, Tendayi Darikwa, Adam Jackson, Ethan Erhahonm Erik Ring (Tom Hamer, 65), Conor McGrandles, Paudie O’Connor, Ben House (Freddie Draper, 6 (JJ McKiernan, 80)), Sean Roughan, Jovon Makama (Bailey Cadamarteri, 46), Jack Moylan (Tom Bayliss, 65). Subs not used: Jamie Pardington, Rob Street.
Cambridge: Vicente Reyes, Danny Andrew, Paul Digby, Michael Morrison, James Brophy (Sullay Kaikai, 65), Dan Nlundulu, Korey Smith, Jubril Okedina, James Gibbons (Dan Barton, 66), Brandon Njoku (Ryan Loft, 73), Emmanuel Longelo (Elias Kachunga, 80). Subs not used: Liam Bennett, Zeno Ibsen Rossi, Jordan Cousins,.
Referee: Adam Herczeg
Attendance: 6,969 (926 away)
