It took Blues a while to get going but when they did they just proved too strong for their League Two opponents, who did get a late consolation goal for their impressive travelling support to celebrate. Blues: Maik Taylor, Melchiot (Dunn 84), Upson, Martin Taylor, Gray, Anderton, Savage (Clapham 80), Clemence, Gronkjaer, Heskey (Morrison 67), Yorke. Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Izzet. Booked: Anderton. Goals: Gronkjaer 64, Morrison 77, Savage 80 pen. Lincoln City: Marriott, Bloomer, Futcher, Morgan, McAuley, Peat (Taylor-Fletcher 69), Gain, Butcher, Green (Toner 84), Yeo, McCombe (Richardson 74). Subs Not Used: Rayner, Sandwith. Booked: McAuley, Futcher, Peat. Goals: Yeo 84 pen. Att: 14,500 Ref: E Evans (Manchester).
As most Premiership managers do at this stage of the competition, Steve Bruce made one or two changes to the side. At the back, Martin Taylor replaced Kenny Cunningham, whilst in midfield, Stephen Clemence came in for Muzzy Izzet and Darren Anderton made his Blues debut replacing the suspended Damien Johnson. Up front, Dwight Yorke started with Clinton Morrison dropping to the bench.
Lincoln set their stall out to be tough to beat in the first half, and to be honest, Blues didn't really get into top gear, and the result was a bit of a stalemate. Anderton, who was excellent throughout, had two shots blocked, whilst Gareth Macauley headed wide for the visitors. Late on in the half, Emile Heskey hit the underside of the bar with a header which somehow stayed out, but it was 0-0 at the break.
All the action came in the second half. Simon Yeo, who is always a threat at League Two level, tested Maik Taylor from distance, before a Heskey shot was smothered by Lincoln 'keeper Alan Marriott.
After 64 minutes, Blues finally took the lead, and it was no surprise that Anderton was the architect. His magnificent diagonal ball was curled perfectly for Jesper Gronkjaer to run onto and into the area. The Danish winger - who impressed in the main despite insisting on trying to do too much at times - knocked the ball on with his chest before hitting a low left foot drive into the back of the net.
On 76 minutes, Blues doubled their advantage through Morrison, who had replaced the injured Heskey. Gronkjaer's ball down the line appeared to be overhit, but Mario Melchiot chased it and won a sliding tackle with Marriott, who had obviously left his goal unguarded. Melchiot was able to slide the ball across the face of the goal, and Morrison was on hand to finish.
Just two minutes later Morrison was again involved, this time as he was brought down in the area by Paul Morgan. Robbie Savage - whose number had just been flashed up by the fourth official as he was imminently set to be replaced - pushed Yorke away in order to take the penalty, and duly obliged from the spot, before being replaced by fit-again Jamie Clapham, for whom the run out will have done him good.
Lincoln were dead and buried now, but with six minutes remaining they got a goal that they probably deserved for their endeavours. Yeo was brought down in the area by Melchiot, and the forward got up to take the penalty and drove the ball down the centre past Maik Taylor to give the 2,500+ travelling fans something to cheer.
3-1 was how it finished, and for those of us who were at Blackpool last season, it was a relief to have progressed against a lower league club who were clearly performing well. It may have taken a while, but Blues were always comfortable, and there were some signs of the side playing a bit of football, which was a relief. This was certainly helped by Anderton who was magnificent. His distribution and work-rate could not be faulted, and playing 90 minutes will have helped his fitness no end. Despite playing this match on both flanks (right in the first half, left in the second), he looked as though he was ready to influence games, and there has to be a shout for him to be included alongside Savage in the middle at Bolton on saturday.