3/1 To Win
Derby County were held to a 0-0 draw by Lincoln City in Sky Bet League One on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides had opportunities to win the game on the day but ultimately neither were able to find a breakthrough and the points were shared at the LNER Stadium.
The result means Derby have won 10 and drawn two of their last 13 outings in league action.
Key Moments
The first chance of the afternoon went the way of the Rams and it came following a wonderful cross from Louie Sibley, who was brought into the side from the off in place of Tyreece John-Jules. The midfielder whipped a deep ball into the area from the left to the head of defender Curtis Nelson who could only direct his header straight at Lukas Jensen in the Lincoln goal.
Skipper Conor Hourihane, making his 500th starrt in club football, then let fly from distance but his effort was easily held by Jensen.
Winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was next to try his luck after a mazy run saw him get in behind down the left but the ball just ran away from him as he stretched to get a shot away which he could only direct into the side netting.
The home side had little to shout about in the opening 15 minutes but nearly took the lead direct from an Ethan Hamilton free-kick. He let fly from around 30-yards out and his strike had to be put behind for a corner by former Lincoln goalkeeper Josh Vickers.
Lincoln were slowly growing into the game and had a couple of good chances in quick succession. First, Reece Hackett stung the palms of Vickers after excellent work from Hamilton to play him in before Ted Bishop's effort was brilliantly cleared away by the head of Nelson.
The best chances of the half then fell to striker Joe Taylor, both within a couple of minutes of each other. On both occasions the Imps' number nine was able to put on the afterburners and get in behind the Derby backline but, with just Vickers to beat, he blazed his two efforts high and wide.
Derby came out on top after the break and were inches away from taking the lead when Sibley let fly from range but his effort fizzed just wide of Jensen's far post.
Neat interplay on the edge of the area then saw Tom Barkhuizen find Collins with a lovely through ball but the striker, with 17 goals to his name this season, fired over the bar from just inside the area.
But it was the hosts that nearly took the lead as Taylor's pace continued to cause problems. The striker got in down the right this time and looked to dink Vickers. This time he was able to beat the Rams' shot-stopper but Eiran Cashin raced back brilliantly to hook the ball off of the line and keep the scores level.
Taylor's fourth chance of the game was the hardest of the lot when he got on the end of substitute Dylan Duffy's cross but he could only head over from six-yards.
Vickers then denied Taylor with a great low save as the Lincoln striker looked to bend one into the far post from the edge of the area.
Nelson headed over a Mendez-Laing cross as the match entered the final 15 minutes and both teams continued to search for a winner.
With chances few and far between in the second half, only three minutes of additional time were signalled and the points were shared in Lincolnshire.
The Teams
Lincoln City: Jensen (GK), Sorensen, Jackson (C), Erhahon, Hackett-Fairchild (57' Duffy), Taylor (77' Moylan), Bishop, Hamilton, Roughan, Mitchell, Draper (87' Makama).
Substitutes not used: Wright (GK), Smith, Burroughs, Eyoma.
Derby County: VIckers (GK), Wilson, Hourihane (C), Cashin, Barkhuizen (77' Thompson), Bird, Collins, Mendez-Laing, Sibley (67' John-Jules), Elder, Nelson.
Substitutes not used: Wildsmith (GK), Bradley, Ward, Robinson, Brown.
What's Next Up?
The Rams are back on the road in Sky Bet League One action next Tuesday when they travel to Berkshire to take on Reading (8pm kick-off).
