Sunderland were defeated 2-0 in the League One playoff first leg and were left with a mountain to climb at the Stadium of Light.
The hosts had edged the first half, but the two sides went into the break level. Lincoln’s Tom Hopper scored the opening goal of the game six minutes into the second half, Brenan Johnson scored a second for the hosts to give them a commanding lead going into the second leg.
Lee Johnson made two changes for the trip to Lincolnshire, with Tom Flanagan and Aiden McGeady returning into the team for Connor McLaughlin and Jack Diamond.
Lincoln had a poor home record with the hosts sitting in 13th in the League One home table, but the Imps welcomed back three thousand fans back to Sincil Bank.
The hosts had started the better side and were the first to have an effort on goal, Anthony Scully easily beat Denver Hume and his effort was brilliantly saved by Lee Burge.
Sunderland were dealt an early blow as Hume was brought off injured for Callum McFadzean only ten minutes into the game.
Through the opening 15 minutes, Johnson’s men hadn’t really got going and were yet to stamp their mark on the game.
Lincoln were the team playing with more energy and looked the more likely to get the opener from a corner, the ball dropped to Lewis Montsma, who forced a smart save from Burge.
Following a poor opening 25 minutes, the lads had got their foot on the ball more but hadn’t tested the Lincoln keeper at all.
Lincoln were inches away from taking the lead with ten minutes to play in the half, Brennan Johnson’s effort from range crashed off the post, and O’Nien was there to clear.
With only a few minutes left in the half, Lynden Gooch cut inside well and curled a lovely effort just wide of the post.
Sunderland almost took the lead two minutes into the second half, Jordan Jones did well to cut inside and fired a strong effort which was brilliantly saved onto the bar by the emergency loan keeper Josef Bursik.
From the following corner, McGeady found Bailey Wright in acres of space who struck the bar from six yards out.
The second had started an explosive pace, Burge made a great save to deny Jorge Grant, but the ball found its way back to Grant who had an effort deflected to Tom Hopper who couldn’t miss from a yard out and give the hosts the lead.
An hour into the game, and Sunderland hadn’t responded to going behind, Johnson’s men needed to find an extra gear and take the game to Lincoln.
Sunderland came close to equalising through McGeady, the Irishman cut inside beat three men but was denied by a strong save from Bursik.
McGeady looked the most likely to get Sunderland a goal and the ball was played back to him on the edge of the box, but his effort whistled just over the bar.
Sunderland were dominating possession and looking for the equaliser with several crosses going into the box to test the Lincoln back line.
Sunderland were on top, but shot themselves in the foot, Johnson closed down Burge’s poor clearance and the ball dropped to the loanee to tap home into an empty net.
The lads came inches away to getting a goal back from a long-range Grant Leadbitter effort which took a nick of Lincoln defender and spun just past the post.
The lads failed to create anything late on to take something back to the Stadium of Light and were left with a huge task in the second leg.
Full Time: Lincoln 2-0 Sunderland
ALS Man of the Match: Lynden Gooch
Sunderland: Burge; O'Nien, Wright, Flanagan (Diamond 91’), Hume; Scowen (McFadzean 11’), Power (Leadbitter 69’), Jones (Stewart 69’), Gooch, McGeady; Wyke
Subs not used: Matthews, Maguire & Winchester
