Dale made it five wins in a row with a fine performance and 3-1 win at Sincil Bank.
Dale fell behind to a Chris Herd goal, but an equaliser from Chris O'Grady and another two from Craig Dawson and Joe Thompson gave Dale all three fully deserved points as they extended their lead at the top of the League Two table.
Keith Hill made just one change to the side that started in the 3-0 win over Macclesfield last Saturday, as Joe Thompson returned from injury to replace Kallum Higginbotham on the right-wing. This meant Tom Heaton started in goal, with Scott Wiseman, Craig Dawson, Nathan Stanton and Tom Kennedy making up the back four. The two Jason's (Taylor and Kennedy) partnered one another in midfield, with Thompson and Will Atkinson on either wing. Chris O'Grady and Chris Dagnall partnered each other up top.
Dale's last two games have shown that they seemed to have rectified their poor starts to games after taking the lead against Bradford and Macclesfield. Keith Hill will have hoped his side can do the same at a Lincoln side that have been short of goals lately. However, the opening ten minutes were relatively quiet, with just a corner to show for Dale's attacking efforts. There were a few promising moments as Dale got into good positions, but they couldn't make anything of it, with Chris Dagnall and Chris O'Grady getting mixed up with one another on one occasion.
The opening 23 minutes were very quiet, but the first real chance of the game provided the first goal. However, it was the home side who took the lead. A Dale corner was cleared to the Imps' right-back Eric Lichaj who broke forward with the ball running at the Dale defence before sliding in Chris Herd. He took a touch before calmly slotting the ball past Dale 'keeper Tom Heaton to give the home side the lead.
Whilst Dale have been known for their impressive football this season, they also have a gritty determination through the side that has seen them pick up some vital points. They would need to show this side of their game again if they were to get back into the game and Chris Dagnall had a strong swerving effort in the 27th minute which Rob Burch did well to hold onto on the dive.
Two minutes later, the lively Chris Dagnall showed why he has been in such strong form this season as he ghosted past several Lincoln defenders to get into the box. However, his right-footed shot left a lot to be desired as it went high over the crossbar and even out of the ground though a look down at the turf from the diminutive front man suggested the playing surface had a lot to do with it. Jason Taylor tried his luck from range as Dale started to dominate possession, but his left-footed shot was sliced well wide of Lincoln goalkeeper Burch's right post.
Dale's pressure continued and in the 36th minute paid off as Chris O'Grady brought Dale level. A quality move down the flank as Will Atkinson played Scott Wiseman in on the overlap on the right-hand side. His run took him to the by-line before he cut a low ball back to O'Grady on the near side of the box, who lashed the ball home with a superb finish on his right foot.
The goal was what Dale needed and to be fair was fully deserved as they would not have relished going in a goal down at half-time. Hill's side weren't content in sipping a half time cuppa on level terms and dramatically turned the game round with another goal. Dale were pressing in the closing stages of the half keeping the home side's defence on thier toes with a raft of chances. Tom Kennedy had a decent effort from a free-kick which took a deflection out for a corner, before Jason Kennedy tried his luck from the edge of the box which Lincoln 'keeper Rob Burch managed to collect at the second time of asking.
With just a minute remaining until half-time Dale could have taken the lead through Joe Thompson whose looped headed effort troubled the back-peddling Burch and he turned the ball over the bar for a corner kick.
However, from the resulting corner, the visitors did take the lead. Tom Kennedy floated in the corner from the right to the back post where an unmarked Craig Dawson was waiting in the air, and he powered home a header to put Dale 2-1 up right on the stroke of half-time.
That was the last meaningful action of the first-half as Dale ended a half that was slow to start, but was one that ended superbly for Keith Hill's side as they went in 2-1 up.
Imps boss Sutton had mulled over his team's first half showing and felt a change would have an effect at the re-start. Jamie Clarke came off for Lenell John-Lewis though in truth it didn't make a jot of difference.
Dale finished the second half in total dominance and will have wanted a similar start to the second period. However, it was a slow start, with Dale just edging the opening exchanges. Jason Kennedy came close after a bit of panic in the Lincoln defence, but his effort from just outside the box went wide of Burch's right hand post.
Once Hill's side got their legs working again and reached the levels of the first half they were soon keeping the home side at bay with slick, fluent passing and a potential to test the home side keeper at any time. In the 59th minute, Dale extended their lead to 3-1 thanks to some magnificent quick thinking. Tom Kennedy took a quick free-kick as he slid in Chris Dagnall just inside the right edge of the area. He took the ball on and played a perfect low ball across to Joe Thompson at the back post who had the simplest job of tapping the ball in to double Dale's advantage.
That goal finished Lincoln, heads dropped and the crowd began to boo and complain at everything that went wrong for them. Even with half-an-hour left it was difficult to see how the home side were going to get back into the game. The 492 Dale fans that had made the journey to Sincil Bank were in fine voice as they saw Keith Hill's side pass the ball about with ease, and were even a strong bet for a fourth goal.
Following the goal, Dale were happy to keep the ball without going hell for leather, there was no need, whilst Lincoln were clearly a team short of confidence and for the rest of the afternoon idea's too. Just one real chance of note for the Imps from a set-piece in the 78th minute when Cian Hughton headed over from little over 6 yards out.
Dale so nearly made it 4-1 after fantastic individual work from Chris O'Grady. The front man on-loan from Oldham held the ball up before dragging it back and turning his man with ease. He then rifled off a left-foot shot which looked destined for the net. However, it rose just an inch too high and rocketed back off the crossbar before going out for a goal-kick. It would have been a superb goal from the loanee as Dale looked to make 100% sure of the three points.
Hill's side dominate through sheer hard work combined with a tempo to match. There's a massive will to win too and that was evident when Lincoln did manage to get a sight of Tom Heaton's goal. Tom Kennedy put his body on the line to block a strong effort from Michael Gordon and Lincoln substitute Aaron Brown added to the shots off target tally driving in from the left which didn't trouble Tom Heaton as it sailed well wide of his right post.
Keith Hill's side were clearly high in spirits, and shots were flying in from everywhere. Kallum Higginbotham, who had replaced Chris Dagnall, tried his luck from at least 40 yards out from the right touchline. It ended up drifting just wide of Burch's goal, but only Higginbotham knew if it was an attempt at an early cross or an audacious effort.
There was three minutes of added time indicated as Lincoln won a succession of corners. However, they couldn't make any of these as Dale cleared their lines easily.
The game came to a close with Dale picking up their 5th win in succession, and with Bournemouth losing heavily at Morecambe, it meant Keith Hill's side would be top of the League Two table come Christmas Day, the first time they've been in that position in 101 years. It's Shrewsbury at home next and the return of former player and manager Paul Simpson. Make sure you're there it's better than watching Brazil!
Lincoln: Burch, Hughton, Swaibu, Watts, Baker, Kerr, S Clarke, Lichaj, Herd, J Clarke, Facey.
Dale: Heaton, Wiseman, Dawson, Stanton, T Kennedy, Taylor, J Kennedy, Thompson, Atkinson, O'Grady, Dagnall.
Referee: Andy Woolmer. Assistant Referees: Alan Parker and Paul Martin. Fourth Official: Dave Naylor.
Attendance: 3,293 (492 Dale fans).
