Simon Grayson gives Fleetwood players high marks for carrying out game plan to beat Lincoln

Goals from Ged Garner his first in the league and second for the club, and top scorer Callum Camps did the damage before substitute Callum Morton provided the Cod Army with a late scare at Sincil Bank.

But Grayson’s charges held on to secure a welcome win, Town's first in nine away games since seeing off Swindon on December 12.

The head coach said: “All of the questions that we asked of the players to deliver a performance and deliver the game plan, they certainly did that.

“There were a lot of individual performances throughout the team. We’ve had too many performances where we’ve had sixes (out of 10), whereas we’ve needed sevens, eights or nines. I think we got that and that’s why we won the game.”

Fleetwood’s hosts started the night second in in League One and were desperate to get back on the winning trail after a stoppage-time defeat in Saturday's seven-goal thriller at Plymouth.

But Grayson’s men stuck to the task and will head to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday confident of recording back-to-back wins for the first time since November.

“You come to Lincoln and you play a real good team,” added Grayson. “We were under no illusions.

“They’re near the top of the league for a reason. They’ve been at the top of this division for large parts of the season.

“They have got some very talented footballers but we had a game plan and that worked.

“We were on the front foot and we executed our game plan really well.

“We stopped them from playing and when we got the ball we passed it really well, probably as well as we’ve passed it, and looked a real threat. I thought we were totally in control in the first half.

“We controlled it right up until they scored from our mistake. We showed a different side to us second half to defend and show good characteristics.

“I think overall it was a thoroughly deserved win. If we’d have gone two or three up before half-time I don’t think anyone would have been at all surprised.

“Dominating the midfield is a big part of any football match but especially against a good side like Lincoln.

“They’ve got good rotation and they’ve got good footballers who can win the ball. They’ve got people who can run in behind with that energy.”