Lincoln City took a big step towards promotion as they dethroned Cardiff City at the top of League One with a 2-0 win.
It was a game of few chances at the Cardiff City Stadium, though the Imps had goalkeeper George Wickens to thank for a brilliant save to deny Ollie Tanner’s whipped effort.
Wickens was called into action a minute later to keep out Rubin Colwill’s effort, and the Cardiff forward saw another shot deflected narrowly wide seconds after.
The Bluebirds finished the first half on top and started the second in the ascendency, but it was the visitors who took the lead after 55 minutes in south Wales.
Rob Street’s flick on played Ben House through into the Cardiff box, and House’s return ball put it on a plate for the Imps striker, who found the bottom corner.
Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy turned to his bench to try and inspire a comeback, bringing on Callum Robinson and Chris Willock in response to seeing his side go a goal down.
But it was a Lincoln substitute who made the telling impact, as Dom Jeffries finished off another counter-attack to double their advantage with quarter of an hour left to play.
For all their possession the hosts could not break down the resolute Lincoln defence, with Colwill coming closest after 78 minutes with a shot through a crowd of bodies which went fractionally wide of the bottom corner.
Robinson also saw an effort saved, as Cardiff went in search of an unlikely late double. But the hosts could not find a way past Wickens, as the Bluebirds tasted defeat at home in the league for the first time since September.
Defeat also saw Cardiff surrender top spot in League One for the first time since late November, as they fall two points behind the Imps.
Lincoln meanwhile open up a 13-point gap to third-place Bolton Wanderers, who play later on Saturday at home against Wycombe Wanderers.
