Michael Skubala praised his side's second half performance as they came from behind to win 2-1 at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
The result means City's League One play-off hopes are in their own hands with a home game against champions Portsmouth to conclude the season next Saturday.
The Imps trailed to a Liam Sercombe penalty but hit back through Joe Taylor and Freddie Draper to move up to sixth in the division.
Skubala said: "We knew it was going to be tough coming here. We know how much they were fighting for every point so they could stay up.
"They started the game brighter than us and we didn't begin it as 'ourselves'.
"In the second half we came out and blew them away a little bit and could have probably scored more.
"It was a brilliant second half and everyone worked hard, digging deep to get those points.
"The 1,000+ fans really got behind the team and pushed us on when we were 1-0 down. It really counted and helped us get back into the game. They drove us on."
Talking about the goals, Skubala added: "We knew Joe's pace would frighten their backline and he took his finish really well.
"Freddie did a job for us in terms of trying to win first contacts or diagonals. As the game went on he grew into it and a brilliant second half performance was capped by his goal, which was a good finish."
He concluded: "The character of the group is amazing and if we looked back months ago to be told we'd be in a position where we're sixth with the champions coming to our place to face us as we look to clinch a place in the play-offs we'd have all taken it.
"It's up to us now. We have a really tough game next week against the champions, who have been brilliant. We just have to give everything we've got next week."
