Meeting in a league fixture for the first time since February 1954, third-tier promotion chasers Lincoln City and Birmingham City clash at LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.
The Imps recorded an away success in the EFL Trophy at Grimsby Town prior to the international break, whilst Blues managed a comfortable victory over Shrewsbury Town in Shropshire.
Match preview
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After finishing seventh in League One during the 2024-25 campaign and missing out on the playoffs by just two points, Lincoln City are on a mission to place inside the top six this time around, with Saturday's hosts losing just one of their opening nine league matches so far.
Following a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Barnsley at LNER Stadium on August 17, the Imps have managed a seven-game unbeaten streak in the third tier, including three points over strugglers Leyton Orient last time out in League One courtesy of goals from Jovon Makama and Freddie Draper, with the former signing a new three-year deal at the club recently.
Due to Lincoln's trip to second-placed Wrexham on October 12 being postponed due to international call-ups, Michael Skubala's troops have enjoyed nearly a fortnight to recover from a 2-1 success over League Two Grimsby in Northern Group G of this season's EFL Trophy.
Heading into Saturday's clash with title favourites Birmingham, the Imps are occupying fourth position in the League One table, four points behind the Second City club in first and two points ahead of Exeter City and Charlton Athletic in seventh and eighth respectively.
With last season's leading marksmen Joe Taylor and Daniel Mandroiu no longer at the club, a new wave of Lincoln stars have stepped up to the goalscoring plate so far this term, including Ben House and centre-back Adam Jackson.
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Overwhelming favourites to lift the League One crown in May, Birmingham experienced their first bump in the road back to the Championship on October 4, when the Second City giants suffered a maiden league defeat at Charlton, ending hopes of an invincible campaign in the third tier.
Insistent on continuing with their controlled, possession-based style, Blues found it extremely difficult to break through the Addicks' pressure and failed to register a shot on target in the contest, with former Coventry City striker Matty Gooden scoring to secure three points for Nathan Jones's side.
Chris Davies's troops responded to that humbling defeat in the capital four days later by the way of an evening of EFL Trophy fun at lowly Shrewsbury, with a brace from ex-Rangers winger Scott Wright, alongside efforts from Tomoki Iwata and Emil Hansson, sealing a 4-0 victory at the Croud Meadow.
Despite losing their most recent league fixture, Birmingham remain top of the pile in the League One standings following the October international break, possessing a two-point buffer over Wrexham in second and newly-promoted Mansfield Town in third.
Whilst the off-season was dominated by Blues splashing record sums on new signings, the last fortnight has been about tying down talent already at the club, with Ethan Laird, Paik Seung-ho and Keshi Anderson all signing contract extensions in the West Midlands.
Team News
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With Draper and Makama both finding the net during Lincoln's most recent League One match, Bailey Cadamarteri and Erik Ring are set to settle for a place on the bench once again.
There could be an alteration in the middle of the park for the Imps, though, with Jack Moylan potentially coming in to partner Conor McGrandles.
Birmingham are set to be without the services of captain Krystian Bielik for a couple of weeks due to an ankle injury, meaning that Christoph Klarer will require a new partner at centre-back.
Dion Sanderson performed admirably during the EFL Trophy battering of Shrewsbury, although Ben Davies is more likely to start in League One this weekend.
Replaced at half time during the Charlton defeat, five-goal forward Alfie May could drop to the bench to make room for Wright in the front four.
Jay Stansfield, Willum Willumsson and South Korea's Paik have all been away on international duty but should start for the visitors in Lincolnshire.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Hamer, O'Connor, Roughan; Erhahon, Darikwa, Moylan, McGrandles, Jefferies; Draper, Makama
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsopp; Gardner-Hickman, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata, Wright, Willumsson, Hansson; Stansfield
We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Birmingham City
Two contrasting styles meet at LNER Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when Birmingham are likely to dominate possession against an effective Lincoln outfit.
That being said, we do not expect an easy match for Blues, and it might be a case of grinding out a narrow victory in the closing stages.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
