Lincoln City return to the LNER Stadium as they welcome high-flying Oxford United in SkyBet League One action on Tuesday, October 31st.
The Halloween fixture sees the league’s second and third best defence face each other, with the hosts wanting to continue a good run and Oxford seeking a change of form.
Imps’ interim head coach Tom Shaw managed to retain his unbeaten record on Saturday, coming away from Devon with a 1-1 draw against Exeter City.
Opposition: Oxford United
Liam Manning’s Oxford United sit second in League One, level on points with third placed Bolton and six points behind leaders Portsmouth.
However, the U’s are without a win in their last three games. Over those three they have picked up draws at home to Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers, but fell to a 2-0 loss away to Wigan Athletic.
This came after a great run of four wins in four, so the visitors will be hoping to return to winning ways when they travel to Lincolnshire.
Team News:
The headline news is that Danny Mandroiu is available for selection, after serving his three match ban. The Irish winger was shown a straight red card against Burton Albion, in what turned out to be Mark Kennedy’s last match in charge.
Ben House and Lewis Monstma remain sidelined, but Tyler Walker has returned to training and might not be far away from a return.
Reeco Hackett was added to the injury list in Shaw’s first game in interim charge and remains out. Ted Bishop was back on the bench against Exeter, as his injury concerns have subsided.
The U’s are set to be without Marcus Browne, Kyle Edwards and James Henry for their game under the lights at the LNER Stadium.
However, Oxford have some positive news too as last week midfielder Alex Gordon returned after almost a year out with a knee injury.
Played for (or managed) Both:
John Flemming is one of the men who have played for both sides. After coming through the Oxford United youth set-up he played 75 games for the U’s between 1971 and 1975. The midfielder then moved to Lincoln City, playing 121 games over the course of five years.
A number of English football journeymen have played for both teams over the years, including Robert Duffy, Luke Foster and Chris Maguire.
Manager Michael Appleton, who lost 3-1 at the LNER Stadium with his Charlton Athletic side last Tuesday, has managed both sides. He was a runner-up in two EFL Trophies during his time at Oxford, as well as gaining promotion into League One in 2015/16. He left the U’s in 2017 before taking charge of the Imps 2019 for a successful spell that include one of Lincoln’s highest ever league finishes.
Head-to-Head:
Interestingly, in their last ten meetings they have an equal record as the Imps have won five and the U’s have won five.
Last season, Lincoln completed a league double over Tuesday’s visitors, winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium.
In their history the sides have met 38 times. Oxford have a slightly better record, winning 18 games compared to Lincoln’s 15. The other five games ended level.
The upcoming game promises to be an interesting one, pitting two teams with impressive defences and contracting form against one another.
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