Cardiff City saw off a stubborn Wigan Athletic as Calum Chambers' sumptuous long-range strike made it eight successive home league wins for the League One leaders.
Former Arsenal centre-back Chambers put the dominant hosts in front midway through the first half with a curling effort from 25 yards.
Cardiff had more than 80% possession against opponents who defended so resolutely and single-mindedly that they barely ventured beyond the halfway line.
Brian Barry-Murphy's side missed several chances to extend their lead as they earned an eighth straight home league win, their best such run since 2012 when they reeled off 10 straight Championship victories at Cardiff City Stadium on their way to Premier League promotion.
Second-place Lincoln City had moved level on points with the Bluebirds following their win over Peterborough United earlier on Sunday, but this result keeps the Welsh club three points clear at the top of the table, five ahead of Bradford City in third.
Wigan, meanwhile, remain 14th, three points clear of the relegation zone and nine adrift of the play-off places.
Lincoln had laid down the gauntlet for Cardiff, but that would not have perturbed the League One pacesetters given their recent home form.
Brian Barry-Murphy's side were in complete control of this game from the first whistle, monopolising possession and keeping their opponents hemmed in their defensive third of the pitch.
Chambers, Omari Kellyman and Dylan Lawlor all went close for the hosts before Chambers opened the scoring in spectacular fashion by arcing a right-footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Cardiff continued to control the game but found it tricky to unpick Ryan Lowe's ultra-defensive visitors.
They still fashioned enough opportunities to win by more, namely Yousef Salech's header over and shots from Callum Robinson and Joel Bagan which were kept out by Wigan goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Those misses were academic, though, as Cardiff maintained their three-point cushion at the summit as they aim to make an instant return to the Championship.
Cardiff City: Trott, Ng, Lawlor (Fish 84’), Chambers, Bagan, Wintle, Robertson, Kellyman (Robinson 72’), Ashford (Tanner 72’), Willock, Salech. Subs Not Used: Kpakio, J. Colwill, Turnbull, Davies.
Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Fox, Carragher, Aimson, Murray, Weir (McManaman 90’), Brenan (Asamoah 46’), Francois, Raphael, Wright (Bettoni 90’), Costelloe. Subs Not Used: Savin, Sessegnon, Hungbo, Saydee.
