August Priske scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Sincil Bank on Saturday as Birmingham bounced back from their defeat at Cardiff to move, at least temporarily, into second place in the Championship.
Fortune favours the Blues in the opening quarter
Birmingham broke the deadlock in the 16th minute through a goal that owed something to good fortune. A Blues pass deflected off Lincoln defender Yunus Konak and rolled straight to Priske on the edge of the box. The Dane swivelled sharply and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Priske had been listed as a doubt ahead of the match, making his contribution all the more significant. He did not wait long in the second half to underline his importance, adding a second goal shortly after the restart to put Birmingham firmly in command at Sincil Bank.
Cochrane seals it; Bayliss reply comes too late
Alex Cochrane stretched the lead to three, putting the result beyond Lincoln's reach. The Imps did pull one back through substitute Tom Bayliss, who reduced the deficit and gave the home side a foothold in the closing stages, but Birmingham managed the final minutes without alarm to take all three points.
The win is especially timely for Birmingham, who had suffered a 1-0 loss to Cardiff just days earlier, a result that had raised questions about their attacking output. The response at Sincil Bank was emphatic: three goals scored, a clean attacking performance and a statement of intent from a side clearly aiming for one of the automatic promotion spots.
Table picture shifts in Birmingham's favour
The three points lifted Birmingham into second place, at least until other results elsewhere in the division were concluded. For Lincoln, the afternoon was a difficult one. The Imps had recorded a remarkable 4-1 home win over Burnley in their previous home fixture at Sincil Bank, but they could not replicate that form here. Head coach Dennis Cohen, who had spoken positively after that Burnley result, now faces the task of steadying his side after conceding three.
Meanwhile, Preston remain anchored at the foot of the table after their defeat at Stoke, leaving them in a precarious position with the gap to safety still to be bridged. Norwich battled back from two goals down to take a point against Watford in another dramatic result across the division.
For Birmingham, however, Saturday belonged to Priske. Two goals, a team response after a setback, and a climb to second: the Dane delivered precisely when his club needed him most.
Frequently asked
- What was the score in Birmingham vs Lincoln?
- Birmingham won 3-1 at Sincil Bank. August Priske scored twice, Alex Cochrane added a third, and substitute Tom Bayliss scored a consolation for Lincoln.
- Where does Birmingham sit in the Championship table after beating Lincoln?
- The win moved Birmingham into second place in the Championship, at least temporarily, as results elsewhere in the division were still being played.
- Who scored for Birmingham against Lincoln?
- August Priske scored two goals, one either side of half-time, and Alex Cochrane added the third to secure the 3-1 victory.