August Priske scored twice as Birmingham City underlined their promotion credentials with a fourth away victory of the season in a physical Championship contest at Lincoln City.

Mikkel Ladefoged hit a post early on for the home side – who were looking to make it back-to-back wins in the second tier for the first time for 66 years following last weekend's 4-1 success against Burnley.

Blues responded to take the lead through Priske, although they needed a brilliant save from James Beadle from Deji Elerewe to maintain it to the interval.

Beadle had to be replaced by Ryan Allsop after the break, but Priske stretched to add a second. Tom Bayliss pulled one back for Lincoln, before Alex Cochrane sealed the three points as the visitors moved up five places to second in the table, only to fall back to sixth following the later kick-offs.

Birmingham went into the game looking for a positive response to last weekend's loss at Cardiff, which ended a run of four wins in five unbeaten matches, and they restored Priske up front, with Ethan Laird making his first league start of the season at right-back.

But Lincoln almost scored in their first meaningful attack as the ball was flicked back to Ladefoged and the Dane's powerful low strike thumped against keeper Beadle's right-hand upright.

With Lincoln co-head coach Chris Cohen opting to scrutinise the 'big picture' from a TV camera gantry, Jay Stansfield volleyed inches wide for Blues - but they went in front moments later when a ball forward was diverted into the path of Priske by Yunus Konak and he despatched it into the corner.

It was proving a tough afternoon for Beadle, who was twice left lying on his back clutching his head following heavy landings after coming out to claim balls into the box. Ben House also needed medical attention after a boot in the face from Laird, which earned the defender a yellow card.

Beadle made two saves in added time at the end of the first half to preserve the lead – the first from an under-hit Dom Jefferies sidefoot, and then a point-blank range stop with his thigh from Elerewe, who may feel he should have done better.

The Birmingham keeper did not return for the second half, but they doubled the lead when Christoph Klarer flicked on a long throw and Priske got to the ball fractionally before George Wickens to turn it home.

Lincoln hit back when Ladefoged backheeled the ball to sub Tom Bayliss – who, like keeper Wickens, was making his 100th appearance for the club – and he picked his spot beyond Allsop.

It was to prove only a consolation, however, as Cochrane's deflected shot made it three for Blues, who should have added another when Demarai Gray was sent clear by Tomoki Iwata's pass, only to shoot wide.

Lincoln City co-head coach Chris Cohen told BBC Radio Lincolnshire:

"When we watch it back, there'll be some bits we're pleased with but when you give away the goals that we conceded, you can't expect to get anything out of a game against Birmingham City.

"Our message at half-time was if we have the same half again, we'll get back into it. But unfortunately, the second goal - and the timing of it - it ended up getting a little bit frantic.

"We've got to address the emotion in the game. We've got to address (how to react) when we're winning, when we're losing, when we're drawing, when we get bad decisions. We (need to) try to keep sticking to the plan.

"We saw in the first half that when the boys are executing on the plan and they get to their levels, we're really difficult to play against."

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC WM:

"The fight, the connection between the players - we looked like a real team out there.

"Priske gives you that presence, works hard. The first one just falls to him and he's got that instinctive ability to turn. He's got two good feet and placed it well. That was great.

"And the athleticism, the bravery for the second and the skill to get it past the keeper shows he's becoming a real focal point for us.

"I was wondering whether to start him and I'm really pleased with the decision I made. It was better to get him on there and get him off when he tired than the other way round."