Lincoln City came through their third game of the League One season with their 100% record intact.
They faced a Southend side low on confidence after back to back defeats in their opening fixtures, but for 30 minutes the sides looked evenly matched.
Jason Shackell got the opening goal with a looping header and after that, the visitors withered away. Harry Toffolo added another before half time to put the hosts in the driving seat.
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Tyler Walker bagged his first goal in a Lincoln shirt from the penalty spot after being fouled just after half time, with Bruno Andrade wrapping things up in the last ten minutes in front of 9,000 supporters at Sincil Bank.
It’s the best start the Imps have had to a league season since 1968/69 and the first time they’ve ever kept four clean sheets in a row at the beginning of a campaign.
Having only won promotion from League Two last season, it seems Danny Cowley’s side could well be a dark horse in the third-tier this time out.
Opposition teams will be learning about the Imps all the time, but here are three things we learned about them ourselves on Saturday afternoon.
Versatility
The Imps showed some real versatility this weekend, fitting Cian Bolger and Jason Shackell into the same team with Michael Bostwick moving into midfield.
It was suggested post-match that the change was to protect Michael O’Connor, but despite the small squad, the Imps have shown they have a degree of flexibility in their ranks.
Goals across the pitch
The Imps have scored eight goals in the league thus far, with seven different scorers and an own goal.
Of those goals, two have come from defenders, three from midfielders and two from forwards.
It was a key element of their approach last season to have lots of different goal scorers and it looks likely to be a pattern again this time out.
Jack Payne is a huge signing
Jack Payne might not have a goal to his name this season, but his energy and endeavour is a key part of the Imps new game plan.
Every season they evolve a little more and the long ball tactics of their first campaign back in the Football League are long gone. They put together slick passing moves now, with the former Huddersfield man at the heart of everything they do.