Will Lankshear scored a second-half double for Middlesbrough as they fought back to beat Lincoln City on what was the Imps' first game in England's second tier for 65 years.

Adam Reach had put the Imps ahead with a well-placed finish against the club where he started his career, while a string of fine saves from George Wickens kept the visitors ahead until Lankshear pounced in the 62nd minute.

The summer arrival from Tottenham did well to divert the ball home from close range for the leveller.

And the 21-year-old went on to make it three goals in his first two games for his new club, coming up with a stoppage-time winner having hit the post just minutes earlier.

The comeback victory for last season's beaten Championship play-off finalists consigned the 2025-26 third-tier title winners to their first league defeat since 22 November – with their incredible 29-game unbeaten run taking the Imps to promotion with a 103-point haul.

Lincoln's Championship season-opening showing was all the more impressive for coming under the guidance of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, who stepped up together as a head coaching double act to replace promotion-winning boss Michael Skubala after he left for Bristol City.

The pair worked as assistant coaches under Skubala and have quickly proved they are keen to keep the Imps playing with the same relentless endeavour that reaped huge rewards last term.

Reach gave Lincoln the ideal start with a side-footed finish after just 12 minutes, while it took two fine saves from Wickens to deny Lankshear and Kyle Joseph from restoring parity before the break.

Lankshear tested Wickens again after the interval and Morgan Whittaker sent an effort just over as the hosts continued to search for a way back into the game.

Tom Hamer sent a header over as Lincoln looked to double the advantage, but Lankshear eventually got the goal both he and Boro deserved just after the hour.

While Lincoln did find the back of the net again before the end, Tanto Olaofe's finish was ruled out for offside in what was a frantic end with Lankshear hitting the woodwork before eventually linking up with Riley McGree to decide the game in the 91st minute.

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"What a first day of the season, it had everything.

"They deserved to be up a goal and they were brave in their approach. Our structure wasn't good enough and that's on me, 100%.

"The second half was more about the crowd, the place, the players – their aggression to try to win, their passion. It was all about that. It was nothing to do with tactics, it had nothing to do with me at all.

"I just have to say thanks to the players and the support because everyone was excellent in terms of the second half. They just pushed and pushed and pushed, and at the end we won the game fairly and over the 90 minutes we were the better team, there isn't any question about that."

Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

"There will be very few teams that will be able to come to Middlesbrough this season and perform the way we did in the fist half.

"Everything we want to be as a football club, a football team, being aggressive, on the front foot with the ball and without the ball to really stress one of the best teams in the league. In the first half I thought we were sensational.

"Frustration would be the wrong word, but our lesson to be learned in the end is in the second half not to go safe, and to try to stay aggressive and have lots of moments where we can punch back.

"And we know if we can do that against Middlesbrough, then we can do it against anyone in the league."