Lincoln City host fellow mid-table side Exeter City at the LNER Stadium, looking to add to their six-game unbeaten run on Saturday afternoon (3pm KO).
Last time out, the Imps took a point away from home at Charlton Athletic, with Reeco Hackett scoring to make it three goal involvements in as many games, in the 1-1 draw.
Opposition: Exeter City
The ‘Grecians’ enjoyed their first season in League One last year, comfortably surviving in 14th place. They have consolidated themselves again this year, currently placed one position better.
If the visitors take all three points away from Sincil Bank on Saturday, they will be level on points with Michael Skubala’s side on 42 points, but would remain below on goal difference.
The away side are in good form, winning four out of their last six games in League One, only losing to Bristol Rovers, and promotion hopefuls Derby County.
Exeter have conceded the joint greatest number of penalties (seven) along with Fleetwood Town this season, with defender Will Aimson conceding the most out of anybody League One (three).
Team News:
The Imps’ injury-plagued season continues, with defender Jack Burroughs still out for a few more weeks with an ankle injury.
Fellow defender Adam Jackson suffered a broken nose in the 2-1 victory over Fleetwood Town last Saturday and will be out for the tie against Exeter City and could be out for up to six-seven weeks, Michael Skubala confirmed.
Midfielder Ethan Hamilton could return on Saturday after missing out on the last two games with a knee issue, and new loanee Conor McGrandles is available for selection again after missing Tuesday night’s game against his parent club.
Forward Freddie Draper could also miss the tie on Saturday, after sustaining an ankle injury in the draw at Charlton on Tuesday night.
As for the Grecians, Ben Purrington edges closer to a return, after his injury. Head coach Gary Caldwell confirmed he had been back in training this week. New loan signing Mo Eisa, from MK Dons, is expected to lead the line.
Caldwell admitted during the week that his selection headaches are a good issue to have for his side.
Head-to-head:
In recent years, both sides have made the transition from League Two football into the third tier and have played each other on many occasions. Last season saw the Imps take a point at home in a 1-1 draw, before leaving St James’ Park emptyhanded in the reverse fixture.
This season saw Lincoln have more success on the long journey down to Devon, with an Alistair Smith goal enough to take a point back to Lincolnshire.
You have to go back to the 2018 League Two play-off semi-finals to find the last time the Imps failed to score against Exeter.
The first meeting the two sides had was in 1962, where a 1-1 draw was played out in Devon, in League Division Four.
Overall, Lincoln have had the better hand over their opposition, winning 27 times, drawing 19 times, and losing 21.
Played for both:
Former striker Richard Logan had spells at both Exeter and the Imps, however, he will be more recognised for playing for the former. Logan only made eight starts for Lincoln but netted twice in that brief period.
Between the years 2000-2002, midfielder Justin Walker made 76 appearances for the Imps, before making the trip south to Exeter for a season. He then moved onto Cambridge United when the Grecians were relegated out of the Football League.
Warren Ward made 14 appearances for Exeter City whilst on loan from Lincoln in 1986, while others to play for both include Richard McNeil, goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik, and Jason Minett.
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