Alex Mitchell effort enough as Tom Shaw records first win in charge of Lincoln

Tom Shaw secured his first win in interim charge of Lincoln with a 1-0 League One victory against Fleetwood.

Alex Mitchell handed the Imps an early lead at Highbury and it proved crucial, as Fleetwood were reduced to 10 men late on through Toto Nsiala’s red card.

Fleetwood’s Jack Marriott fired wide on the turn in the opening phase, but the visitors took a sixth-minute advantage when Mitchell stabbed the ball home from close range after connecting with Reeco Hackett’s overhead kick.

Ted Bishop headed over after 25 minutes as the visitors remained in control, though Xavier Simons tested goalkeeper Lukas Jensen at the other end, moments later.

Ethan Hamilton took aim from distance for the Imps but Jay Lynch was equal to it, while Marriott drew Jensen into action early in the second half.

Junior Quitirna blasted the ball over before the hour mark and Bosun Lawal later fired wide as the Cod Army sought an equaliser.

Nsiala was dismissed deep in injury time for clumsily bundling over Lincoln’s Jovan Makama.