Form
Lincoln City finished 11th in League One last season, four places and 14 points below Reading. This season marks their seventh straight season in the third tier, having secured promotion back to League One in 2019, after finishing the season as League Two champions.
However, their run in the third tier will end this season, with the Imps on the cusp of promotion to the Championship, requiring one point to officially confirm promotion. They are also the form side of the division, winning four and drawing
one of their last five games, and are currently on a 23-match unbeaten streak in the league.
The two sides faced each other on the opening day of the season, last August, with Lincoln claiming a 2-0 victory at the LNER Stadium after an own goal from Finley Burns and a strike from winger Reeco Hackett.
The boss
Michael Skubala: Skubala took over as Lincoln head coach in November 2023, replacing Mark Kennedy, who left the club after a poor run of form.
The 43-year-old has no playing background, but had a 20-year career as a coach prior to his first full-time managerial role. He spent time coaching the England under-18 side and the English Futsal team, before joining Leeds United as the head coach of their under-21 side in 2022.
While at Leeds, Skubala had a three-game spell as interim coach after the sacking of American Jesse Marsch. He joined Javi Gracia’s coaching staff when he took over as Leeds manager.
Since starting his managerial career, Skubala has guided Lincoln to two top-half finishes in League One: seventh in 2023/24 and 11th in 2024/25. He has won 66 of his 134 games in charge of the Imps, giving him a win percentage of 49%, and is set to add a first promotion to his CV this season.
Skubala is known for his strong focus on player development and wants his side to play an exciting style of football.
Squad
Lincoln signed five players during the winter transfer window with two coming in permanently and three joining on loan.
Their permanent additions were defenders Josh Honohan and Deji Elerewe, who signed from Shamrock Rovers and Bromley respectively. Their loans were midfielder Kamil Conteh, who joined from League Two side Bristol Rovers; and forwards Alfie Lloyd and Ryan One, who joined from Championship sides Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United respectively.
Star striker James Collins will be missing as he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury back in December. Defender Josh Honohan is also expected to miss out through injury.
Predicted lineup
Wickens, Darikwa, Hamer, Bradley, Towler, McGrandles, Bayliss, Hackett, Moylan, House, Street
Key player
7. Reeco Hackett: Winger Hackett signed for Lincoln in June 2023 from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.
He started his youth career at Fulham but also spent time in the youth setups at Brighton & Hove Albion and then Dagenham and Redbridge. Hackett went on to join Charlton Athletic, which is where he made his professional debut in the Football League.
Loan spells at Boreham Wood and Bromley followed, before he joined Bromley on a permanent deal in 2019. He signed for Portsmouth on a permanent deal in 2020 and made 79 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals, while also spending time on loan at Bromley and Southend.
Hackett has gone onto make 111 appearances for Lincoln, scoring 21 goals, with 10 of those coming this season. The 28-year-old has also represented his country, St Lucia, and has two international goals to his name.
An attacking midfielder who typically plays on the wing, Hackett is a strong crosser of the ball and a counter-attacking threat.
One to watch
10. Jack Moylan: Midfielder Moylan joined Lincoln in January 2024 from Irish side Shelbourne.
He started his career in the youth setup at Bohemians and made his debut for the club in 2020. Moylan spent time on loan at Wexford before signing for Shelbourne in 2022. The Irishman made 70 appearances for Shelbourne across the course of two seasons, scoring 26 goals.
Moylan made his Imps debut in 2024 and has gone onto make 82 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals, with half of those coming this season.
The 24-year-old is an attacking midfielder who typically plays in the number 10 role and is a strong dribbler with the ball at his feet.
