Boss Paul Warne suffers on the sideline as Rotherham United bag crucial promotion win

The table-topping Millers are now seven points clear of third-placed MK Dons with only eight games left to play.

But they made hard work of their 2-1 win, scoring two early goals through Ben Wiles and Chiedozie Ogbene but then letting the Imps back into the contest.

An 81st-minute Lincoln reply from Tom Hopper made for a tense finish at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

"It was very nervy," said Warne who appealed for the home crowd to make more noise as the clock ticked down. "I felt sick.

"In the first half we were excellent. We could have gone three or four up and made it an easier second half.

“I warned the lads at half-time that if Lincoln got the next goal and it was quiet in the stadium things would get edgy.

“We had to change our system in the second half because of injuries. It was end to end for a while and then the opposition had the ascendancy.

“I am really pleased with three points. It's not about performances at this stage of the season.

“It is not going to be a procession to promotion. The lads are jaded and they need the support of everybody to get through. Fortunately we had enough.”

Lincoln manager Michael Appleton said: “In the first half we played into their hands and got caught up playing their way, and we're not good at that.

“They were very comfortable in the first half and I asked the lads to make them feel uncomfortable. You can only do that by being aggressive and running harder and being braver on the ball.

“The players gave me everything second half and we had two or three glorious opportunities to get something out of the game.

“We were really good in the second half and in the last 20 minutes Rotherham were on the ropes.

“We started having a little bit more urgency and the lads were feeling good about themselves. The goal was coming. I think we were knocking on the door for a long time.”