The visitors led through substitute Andreas Hountndji’s strike before Ben House levelled in first-half stoppage time.

And the damage was done within eight second-half minutes as Ladefoged and Dom Jefferies ensured the Imps secured victory in the first league meeting between the two sides this century on a miserable afternoon in Lincolnshire.

Danish striker Ladefoged put the game beyond doubt with his second with just over 20 minutes to go but the writing was already on the wall.

Burnley’s afternoon got even worse when George Wickens saved Marcus Edwards’ penalty late on.

Both managers rung the changes in a bid to get back to winning ways and it was Tom Shaw who ended his side’s winless run of four games to go seven points safe of the danger zone as Burnley remained rooted inside the dreaded bottom three with the pressure continuing to mount on under-fire boss Nicky Hayen.

Burnley, who were relegated from the Premier League last term, have won just one game all season with calls for Hayen’s head mounting among the club’s disgruntled fans.

The hosts almost got off to the perfect start when Romanian international Andrei Coubis had the ball in the net inside the first five minutes, only for it rightfully to be ruled out for offside.

Lincoln’s Reeco Hackett blocked Max Alleyne’s effort on the line to keep the game goalless in the 25th minute.

The Clarets hit the front in the 39th minute when Hountndji, who came off the bench after 11 minutes to replace the injured Armando Broja, tapped home Lucas Pires’ in-swinging corner at the back post.

But the lead didn’t last long as House poked home at the back post himself after Coubis’ long throw evaded everyone in the box deep in first-half stoppage time.

And Lincoln led minutes into the second half as 23-year-old Ladefoged curled an unstoppable strike from close range home with Gregoire Coudert well beaten.

Welshman Jefferies netted his first league goal since March with a strike from outside the box after Burnley failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Ladefoged made it four in the 67th minute when he headed home House’s cross into the top right corner.

Ryley Towler felled Hountondji in the box, but Wickens guessed correctly to rub salt into the already gaping Clarets’ wounds six minutes from time.