Lincoln City 2-0 Sunderland: Brennan Johnson on target as Imps take control in League One play-off
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Tom Hopper's strike was Lincoln's 100th goal in all competitions this season
A Tom Hopper tap-in and Brennan Johnson's opportunist effort put Lincoln City on top after the first leg of a hectic League One play-off semi-final against Sunderland.
The Imps edged a pulsating first half, hitting the post through Johnson.
An increasingly impressive Sunderland hit the woodwork twice in the space of a minute on the resumption.
But after Hopper's strike, Johnson charged down keeper Lee Burge's rushed clearance to make it 2-0.
Burge went to clear Tom Flanagan's under-hit backpass but smashed the ball straight at Johnson and the on-loan Nottingham Forest striker was able to collect and score his 13th goal of the season into an empty net.
Sunderland had plenty of chances throughout but were unable to reduce the deficit heading into Saturday's second leg, which will be played in front of 10,000 supporters at the Stadium of Light.
Imps treat returning fans
A crowd of 3,145 at at LNER Stadium were treated to rich entertainment as fans returned following the most recent lifting of Covid restrictions, with both sides showing little interest in keeping things tight.
The sides finished level on points in the league but Lincoln failed to beat the Black Cats in three meetings, losing and drawing in the league and losing on penalties in the Papa John's Trophy.
Sunderland dominated possession but both teams created good opportunities.
Lincoln's pace and movement out wide caused problems early on and the lively Anthony Scully almost smashed home the opener which Burge did brilliantly to tip over, while Johnson was desperately unlucky not to score when his 20-yard effort hit the base of the post.
Sunderland then got on top, with the influential Aiden McGeady forcing a superb save from Joe Bursik - who excelled on his debut having only signed in the build-up to the game because of an injury to Alex Palmer.
Jordan Jones was then denied by a wonderful save by Bursik, who tipped a fierce strike onto the bar, and moments later Bailey Wright crashed a header back off the bar from six yards.
Hopper's simple opener from Jorge Grant's cross then put the Imps in front and although McGeady twice went close for the visitors, Johnson's fortunate effort earned a crucial 2-0 lead.
Sunderland have 'no room for error' - reaction
Lincoln boss Michael Appleton:
"It is a dangerous position to be in, but I'd much rather be in it than not.
"For a young group to stay as resolute as they were in that second half was great. They put us under a lot of pressure, like you would expect, and I thought the way we dealt with that and controlled it was good.
"We went in front and naturally sat back a bit, letting them dictate play.
"It was brilliant to have the fans back. When the goals went in, that adrenaline rush, and the loud noise they create, despite there only being 3,000 here."
Sunderland manager Lee Johnson:
"I am obviously disappointed, but I truly believe we can still do it. We need to have a big, big night on Saturday.
"I thought the first 15 minutes they were better than us, before we eventually took control and I thought we were the better side. Obviously the keeper has had a worldie and we had some good deliveries across the box, but not the luck like they did.
"The 2-0 loss gives us no room for error whatsoever. We will have to take the game from the start and we know what we've got to do. We are still in this."