City ensured Peter Jackson relished his latest return to Valley Parade with a self-inflicted defeat.

The home side cut their own throats to allow Jackson's Imps to pinch all three points and Stuart McCall's men are still frantically chasing that elusive first goal - even missing a penalty along the way.

Luke O'Brien, City's biggest pre-match worry, was passed fit but McCall was forced into a late change when Steve O'Leary's toe injury flared up again after the team had been named.

Lee Bullock was hurriedly recalled to the starting line-up, with Leon Osborne added to the bench.

Michael Boulding paid the price for City's paucity in the penalty area. Gareth Evans came in against the side gazumped by McCall for his services in the summer.

But City nearly embarrassed themselves inside the first 15 seconds as Steve Williams and Simon Eastwood got in a tangle when the keeper came rushing out. Williams conceded a cheap corner but Eastwood redeemed himself by punching clear Cian Hughton's inswinging kick.

Lincoln were the livelier starters and former City midfielder Scott Kerr threaded a dangerous ball through for Jamie Clarke to chase, O'Brien just recovering in time to thwart the tricky right winger in the box.

Jackson was his typically animated self on the sidelines as his side similarly refused to let City settle.

Rene Howe, who scored a blinding goal for Morecambe against City last season, was denied another thumping effort by Zesh Rehman's sliding block.

It took the home side 15 minutes to get into the game, when Williams pushed up to head straight at Rob Burch and James Hanson nodded across goal.

But City nearly stole the lead when Janos Kovacs casually tried to chest a Simon Ramsden cross back to his keeper. Hanson anticipated well to nip in between but right back Hughton, son of Newcastle caretaker-boss Chris, just did enough to deny him a first senior goal.

Rehman needed treatment on his right eye after a clash of heads with Howe. Both players returned with a change of shirts - Howe's with a new name on the back of it.

Kerr's name was the first in referee David Webb's book for a foul on Michael Flynn. The midfielder got a shot off from the half-cleared free-kick but it lacked any power.

Striker Chris Fagan then angered the Kop for going in late on Ramsden as the ball went out of play and collected Lincoln's second yellow card.

Another foul from Moses Swaibu on Peter Thorne gave O'Brien the chance to line up his sights from 25 yards but a disappointing drive was smothered by the wall.

But it was better from City after their sluggish opening and Chris Brandon wriggled away from three opponents to set off on a forceful 40-yard run which lifted the crowd.

Burch, who almost joined City last year, then thwarted Evans, who almost joined Lincoln this summer, with a decent save. The keeper was swiftly back in action to bale out a sloppy back-pass from Swaibu.

City were looking to break their duck and almost did so with a fantastic strike from Flynn.

The former Huddersfield midfielder was given a golden chance to get City off the mark from the penalty spot nine minutes before half-time.

Shane Clarke handled in the box as Thorne controlled the ball from City's first corner but, with Valley Parade ready to salute the long-overdue first goal of the campaign, Flynn's powerful penalty was turned away by Burch plunging to his right.

Lincoln's goal continued to lead a charmed life as they somehow survived a mighty scramble. Burch foiled Brandon at the near post, Thorne was unable to reach the rebound, Hughton then appeared to handle before Hanson scooped the loose ball agonisingly wide.

It was a breathless way to finish a half which had taken a long while to get going. The fans had also warmed up as the TL Dallas Stand tried to suck the ball into the net.

But Aaron Brown had other ideas as he lifted the ball off Brandon's toes on the edge of the penalty area as the busy midfielder burst through on Thorne's pass in stoppage time. City left the field shaking their heads at how they were not in front.

Kerr's Valley Parade return was cut short at half-time as Lincoln brought on Andy Hutchinson - on the ground where he had scored his first-ever goal on Easter Monday.

The youngster was brought down 30 yards from City's goal and the home side were almost caught napping by Stefan Oakes, whose blast from distance had Eastwood stretching as it flew over.

Lincoln were showing far more attacking intent than before and Fagan twice came within a whisker of scoring from defensive dithering.

Fagan cashed in on a lapse from Rehman to nudge the ball over Eastwood and towards goal but Rehman and Williams both scrambled back and Williams just managed to hook it off the line.

But City did not heed the warning and Fagan was in again a minute later. Williams' back header did not make it and Fagan rounded Eastwood - only for O'Brien to dive in the way and block his goal-bound blast.

They were two big escapes for the home side - but they still hadn't learned.

The ball deflected off O'Brien's heel across the box and was picked up by Jamie Clarke, who got there fractionally ahead of Ramsden. He went down in the challenge, the game's second spot-kick was awarded and Howe made no mistake by sending Eastwood the wrong way.

The momentum had shifted totally - and things went from bad to worse with Lincoln's next attack.

Fagan was allowed to keep running through unchallenged towards the edge of the box and he beat Eastwood inside his bottom right corner.

Jackson danced with his players on the edge of the pitch, while City continued to lose their composure with Brandon booked for a foul on Brown.

All the noise was coming from the section of Lincoln fans who mercilessly taunted McCall with a chant of "You're getting sacked in the morning".

The Bantams boss must have wondered where it had all gone wrong so suddenly after the bright finish to the first half.

There was a worrying absence of composure about the home defence every time the ball came their way.

Evans nearly pulled one back late on with a double strike. His first shot was blocked by Burch and the follow-up was cleared off the line by Shane Clarke.

Flynn whipped another drive inches over the angle before Evans did everything right when clear - except score as the ball flew agonisingly wide of the far post.

BRADFORD CITY	LINCOLN CITY
1 Simon Eastwood	1 Rob Burch
2 Simon Ramsden	3 Aaron Brown
3 Luke O'Brien	4 Janos Kovac
4 Michael Flynn	5 Moses Swaibu
5 Zesh Rehman	7 Stefan Oakes
9 Gareth Evans	10 Chris Fagan
10 Peter Thorne	11 Scott Kerr
11 Chris Brandon	15 Jamie Clarke
12 Steve Williams	18 Rene Howe
17 James Hanson	19 Shane Clarke
8 Lee Bullock	25 Cian Hughton
Substitutes:	Substitutes:
13 Jon McLaughlin	6 Danny Hone
6 Matthew Clarke	14 Lenell John-Lewis for 15 (74)
20 Leon Osborne	17 Sam Clucas
14 Michael Boulding for 10 (82)	20 Paul Musselwhite
15 Joe Colbeck for 8 (74)	26 Andy Hutchinson for 11 (46)
19 James O'Brien for 11 (82)	30 Luca Coleman-Carr
24 Louis Horne	32 Lee Bennett for 7 (90)

MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee	D Webb
Assistant Referee	S J Cook
Assistant Referee	T Harrington
4th Official	S M Stockbridge

GOALSCORERS:
BRADFORD CITY	LINCOLN CITY
	Howe pen (62)
	Fagan (63)

DISCIPLINARY:
BRADFORD CITY	LINCOLN CITY
Ramsden	Kerr
Brandon	Fagan
Colbeck	Brown
	.