Lincoln City 0-0 Wimbledon: Typical end of season encounter ends goalless

Lincoln City and AFC Wimbledon played out a stalemate at the LNER Stadium, which saw the hosts end the season in fifth place, awaiting and a two-legged tie with Sunderland in the play-offs.

The Dons, meanwhile, finished 19th finishing with four games without a win.

Story of the match

A mistake from Dons full back Luke O'Neill allowed Brennan Johnson a chance to break inside the first 20 seconds, but his shot defelcted behind for a corner.

Jorge Grant's delivery was cleared back to him, and his second attempt just evaded Tom Hopper as the visiting defence scrambled the ball away.

Wimbledon's first opening arrived in the 14th minute, meanwhile, when a neat move culminated in Ollie Palmer teeing up Jack Rudoni, but his low shot from ten yards was well held by Alex Palmer in the Lincoln goal.

At the other end Morgan Rogers played Johnson through on goal one-on-one, but Dons keeper Nik Tzanev got down well to thwart him with his feet.

The Imps had the ball in the net five minutes before the break following a great passing move that spanned from right to left, but Johnson was clearly offside from Rogers centre.

Another Lincoln chance went begging two minutes later - this time Johnson turned provider from the right, but Hopper scuffed the ball from close range when it looked easier to score than miss.

With 45 minutes on the clock Grant's free kick wide of the Dons' penalty area eventually fell to Johnson, but he lashed a volley just over.

There was still time for another chance though as George Dobson fired inches wide from 20 yards out for the Dons.

Lincoln made a double substitution at half time replacing both centre back TJ Eyoma and Joe Walsh with Adam Jackson and Lewis Montsma.

The visitors started the second half the brighter of the two sides and went close through Joe Pigott, but his shot deflected into the grateful arms of Palmer.

At the other end an excellent ball from Grant found Tayo Edun on the left wing. He played the ball on to Rogers who squared across the face of goal for Johnson, but the miscued at the back post.

With 25 minutes to go excellent skill from Rogers saw the Lincoln forward emerge from a crowd of four Dons players with the ball, only for play to be stopped for a free kick. Substitute Montsma lined the ball up from 30 yards, but saw his shot parried and then caught by Tzanev.

Lincoln went close to the breakthrough in the 74th minute as captain Liam Bridcutt's cross found Hopper, but his header was well saved.

Four minutes later, a double chance saw Johnson's attempt to loft the ball over Tzanev from Rogers' through ball rebound to Grant, and his strike was palmed behind by the keeper.

With full time approaching the Dons won a free kick on the edge of the area, but Pigott fired through the wall and just wide of Palmer's near post.

Takeaways from the match

It's Sunderland for Lincoln

The Imps would have ended up meeting Sunderland in the play-offs regardless of the outcome of this game. As it were, Michael Appleton's side finish fifth with a draw meaning a second leg at the Stadium of Light rather than at home.

Lincoln have faired better away from home this season, however, so this could suit them.

Dons grateful for survival

Having only secured their League One status for another year last week, Mark Robinson will be happy with this point to finish the season four points above the drop.