Birmingham edge past Lincoln to reach fourth round
Birmingham City scored inside 32 seconds from Ayumu Yokoyama then netted an even more sensational match-clinching second goal from Lyndon Dykes to knock fellow League One side Lincoln City out of the FA Cup.
Yokoyama fired Blues in front to give the League One leaders a perfect start before Dykes doubled the lead with a stunning 20-yard volley - only the August deadline signing's third goal for the club and his second in successive rounds.
Lincoln striker Jovan Makama caused a few late wobbles with a controversial penalty - but it could not deny the hosts a place in the fourth-round draw.
Blues' first goal was the fastest scored at St Andrew's since Bryan Hughes notched after just 12 seconds against Huddersfield on 3 January 2000.
Up against a Lincoln side seven places below them in the table, Blues made seven changes from the side that stayed top with a 3-0 win at Wigan Athletic a week ago - but one of the four who kept his place was Yokoyama, who made a very rapid contribution.
Lincoln were caught cold almost right from the kick-off as the hosts worked the ball swiftly down the right, Scott Wright picked out Yokoyama at the far post and the Japanese winger jinked to his right to find space before slotting home his low right-foot shot.
Blues were by far the dominant first-half force and could have doubled their half-time lead but for a fine fingertip save from former Blues keeper Zach Jeacock to deny captain Lukas Jutkiewicz, but Lincoln did go close when Bailey Cadamarteri powered a right-foot volley wide
When freezing fog began to descend on at the start of the second half, it looked like that might be Lincoln's best hope of salvaging something from the day. But the Imps were finally put out of their misery 13 minutes from time by Dykes' stunner.
There did not seem much danger as the Australia-born Scotland striker attempted to control an awkwardly bouncing punt forward, but he flicked it in the air to outwit one defender, did the same again to create some space, then powered a dipping right-foot 20-yard volley which soared into the back of the net.
Blues did have a late scare when substitute Alfie Chang - on his return after 17 months out - was adjudged to have fouled Lewis Montsma and Makama beat Bailey Peacock-Farrell's dive to score from the spot.
Jutkiewicz went closest to scoring a third for Birmingham in the five minutes of added time. But, when Freddie Draper's header went just wide from a late Lincoln corner, at which even Imps keeper Jeacock was up in attendance, that sent the majority of the 17, 042 crowd home happy.
Summer signing Ayumu Yokoyama's only two previous goals for Blues both came in the 7-1 EFL Trophy win over Fulham Under-21s in October
'A goal to remember' from Dykes
Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM:
"Lyndon Dykes' goal was the type of goal you'll remember for a long time in a game you might not remember much else from.
"It was a goal worthy of winning any match. And in the end it did, as it set us up before their late penalty.
"We made a great start, Ayumu Yokoyama took his goal really well and we looked good, controlled it in the main, and had a couple of good chances.
"But we couldn't get a grip on them second half. They had a cup tie, with nothing to lose."
Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:
"We got caught at the start, but I was really pleased with the character the lads showed and especially in the second half.
"We looked the better team after the break but we've got to keep trying to create more chances - and be more clinical.
"Lyndon Dykes has got quality - and we'd actually kept him quiet until the moment he scored.
"Zach Jeacock did well, playing against his old club, and made one fantastic save, then another in the second half."
Lyndon Dykes' stunning goal at a foggy St Andrew's was his second in successive rounds of the FA Cup
