Lincoln City travel to Pride Park on Thursday night (December 21), as they face Derby County in SkyBet League One action.
The Imps drew 1-1 with Reading at the weekend, extending their unbeaten league run to five games under manager Michael Skubala.
Lincoln come into this game in ninth, five points off their opposition in the last playoff spot.
Opposition: Derby County
The Rams come into this game unbeaten in all competitions across their last five games, last losing to Crewe in the FA Cup. That loss, on Bonfire Night, is their only loss in their last ten outings.
Paul Warne’s side drew 1-1 with Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend, with Tom Barkhuizen scoring for Derby. They led until 90+8, when Luke Leahy netted the equaliser from the penalty spot.
Derby currently sit two points ahead of seventh, and just four behind second place Peterborough United.
Team News:
Lincoln have no fresh concerns ahead of Derby, however they remain without Ben House, Lewis Montsma and Tyler Walker for the foreseeable future with their respective injuries.
Reeco Hackett is training on grass again, Michael Skubala revealed to LincSport last week, but is not expected to make a return against Derby. Ethan Erhahon felt a pull in his thigh before the match against Reading, but the extent of his injury has not been revealed by the Imps manager.
Derby, meanwhile, have a few injuries of their own. Six Derby players remain unavailable for this match.
Played for Both:
Jason Shackell is one of many players to have featured for both sides. Over two stints at County, the defender featured 100 times, scoring twice in the process.
Shackell joined Lincoln City in 2018, and enjoyed success as he helped the Imps gain promotion from League Two. The next season, Shackell announced his retirement from English football after 505 appearances for eight different teams.
Josh Vickers is another to have featured for both, a player currently at Derby County. The 28-year-old made 70 appearances for Lincoln from 2017-2020, winning the Checkatrade Trophy.
Vickers announced he would take a break from football in September 2023, following the sudden death of his wife, Laura, from cancer. Vickers only signed for Derby in the summer, and made his debut as a substitute against Bolton, following a Joe Wildsmith red card.
At the game, money will be raised for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, where Laura Vickers received “amazing care and support”.
Head-to-Head:
Derby are the more successful of the two sides over the course of this fixture. Over the 33 games, the Rams have won 23, drawn six, with the Imps winning the other four.
The first fixture between these sides took places in 1902, in the FA Cup. Derby went on to win 3-1.
These two sides were in the same group of the Bristol Street Motors trophy, with Derby coming out 2-0 winners in the group game.
In their most recent league match, the sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Pride Park in February 2023, and Lincoln beat Derby 2-0 at the LNER Stadium the same season.