Derby County were unable to mark their 5,000th league fixture in English football with a positive result as they went down 2-0 at Lincoln City in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night.
Jack Diamond opened the scoring after 12 minutes from the penalty spot at the LNER Stadium to put the Rams on the back foot.
Derby went on to enjoy long spells of possession as they pushed to get themselves back on level terms but the elusive goal they strived for wasn’t forthcoming.
James Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing both had goals ruled out for offside before Ben House netted the home side’s second goal midway through the second period to secure all three points.
The game - following a minute’s silence and a proud rendition of the National Anthem as a mark of respect to Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II - began in a lively atmosphere as both sets of supporters got right behind their respective teams in the first league meeting between the two clubs since 1986.
Collins, fresh from opening his account for the Rams last time out against Plymouth Argyle, had the first effort of the contest inside the opening ten minutes as Derby enjoyed some early pressure. The striker turned a right-wing cross goalwards, but Lincoln goalkeeper Carl Rushworth easily saved inside his six-yard box.
However, it was Lincoln that drew first blood after 12 minutes. Diamond drove into the Derby box as a result of the home side winning possession high up the pitch and, after being clipped by Jason Knight as he tried to usher the forward down the line, Referee Thomas Kirk immediately pointed to the penalty spot.
Diamond stepped up to take the spot kick and, despite guessing correctly and diving to his right, Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was unable to keep out the powerful effort.
Rosenior’s side responded well and Collins had a goal chalked off for offside but, despite getting on the ball and working their way up the pitch, they were unable to carve out many clear chances in the opening 45 minutes. That was, ultimately, the story of the first half with the hosts also created very little in terms of clear goalscoring opportunities.
Derby’s best effort came in the closing minutes of the half as Knight let fly with an effort from the edge of the box, after the ball fell his way from Louie Sibley’s blocked effort. Rushworth in the home goal managed to push the Republic of Ireland international’s shot away at the first attempt before gathering it at the second time of asking. The on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper also kept out Conor Hourihane's low drive and watched Lewis Dobbin's header drift wide.
Attacking towards the 2,000 Rams fans in the away end in the second half, Rosenior’s players were out on the pitch early following half time and a double change arrived just after the break in the form of Tom Barkhuizen and David McGoldrick in place of Dobbin and Sibley.
Paudie O’Connor headed a set play wide for Lincoln after 55 minutes and, moments later, Derby had a golden chance to get back on level terms. Superb play on the right saw Mendez-Laing burst clear of his marker and drive into space down the wing and cross towards Barkhuizen at the far post. The substitute blasted his first-time effort goalwards from around eight yards out, but Rushworth kept the ball out with a smart reaction stop.
Derby upped the ante as the hour mark closed in and the double change provided an element of energy and drive to their attacking play. A deep cross from Haydon Roberts, as the Rams worked a short corner routine, saw Mendez-Laing head goalwards at the far post into the grateful arms of Rushworth.
The winger had a goal ruled out for offside midway through the half and that proved to be a key moment as just seconds later the Imps burst down the other end and netted a crucial second goal. Eiran Cashin initially blocked a shot inside the box and House was quickest to react to guide the ball into the bottom corner beyond Wildsmith.
Derby weren’t able to find a way back into the contest in the latter stages, despite their best efforts, and the defeat leaves them still searching for their first away win of the current League One campaign.
Derby are back in League One action at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in their latest League One outing against Wycombe Wanderers (3pm kick-off).
Lincoln City: Rushworth (GK), Poole (C), Bishop (Oakley-Boothe 33), Garrick (Jackson 86), O’Connor, House, Sorensen, Eyoma, Roughan, Virtue, Diamond.
Substitutes Not Used: Vernam, Robson, Davenport, Wright, Gallagher.
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane, Cashin, Bird (Osula 71), Collins, Mendez-Laing, Roberts, Sibley (McGoldrick 53), Dobbin (Barkhuizen 53), Davies (C), Knight.
Substitutes Not Used: Loach (GK), Stearman, Forsyth, Thompson.
Attendance: 9,622 (2,064 Derby supporters).
