Lincoln City look to keep their away form up in the league when they make the short journey south to Cambridge United on Saturday.
The Imps will be looking to make it 13 unbeaten on their travels in SkyBet League One, a run that dates back to New Year’s Day, when they lost to Blackpool.
Michael Skubala’s men will be looking to make it five unbeaten in the league, after a goalless draw against Wigan Athletic last time out.
Opposition: Cambridge United
2024 has not been kind to Cambridge, with the U’s not tasting victory this season. Their last three points came in a 3-1 win at home to Wigan Athletic at the start of April.
United join Burton Albion as the only two sides in the division yet to win a league game this season, currently sitting bottom of League One with one point. Last time out, Garry Monk’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, with Cameron Humphreys scoring five minutes from time, to steal all three points.
Team News:
Illness has affected the City squad throughout the week, as multiple players have missed training due to a bout of flu.
City could welcome goalkeeper George Wickens back to the side after his concussion against Peterborough United saw him ruled out of the Wigan fixture last time out. Head coach Michael Skubala did say that he was “touch and go” for the game on Saturday.
Within the goalkeeping department, last week’s debutant Zach Jeacock has also picked up an injury so is unlikely to feature.
Skubala also said that Dylan Duffy is unavailable for the tie in Cambridgeshire due to an injury he has picked up, while he will not serve a ban after being fined and warned for his breaches of FA betting rules.
Tyler Walker remains out for a considerable time, with Ethan Hamilton and Reeco Hackett continuing their rehabilitation programmes respectively. That being said, Hamilton and Hackett are only a handful of games from returning to the squad.
As for the hosts, Ryan Loft is back and ready for selection Garry Monk said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday. In the rest of Monk’s squad, those who missed the defeat at Wycombe last time out, are still unavailable. That includes midfielders Gary Gardner and Josh Stokes, as well as defender Kelland Watts.
Head-to-Head:
In the 42 occasions that the sides have faced each other, it’s the Imps who have the better record, winning 16 times. The U’s haven’t scored a goal against the Imps in over two years, with City coming away 9-0 aggregate winners in that time, over three games.
This is a fixture that dates back to 1970, where the first encounter saw a 1-1 draw in the old Division Four.
Played for Both:
Cambridge forward Dan Nlundulu will face off against his former employers at the weekend. The new United signing has started well for the U’s personally, scoring twice in four appearances so far this season. He made 21 appearances for the Imps back in the 2021/22 season, scoring just the once.
City director of football Jez George has quite the connection to Cambridge United, after being their director of football in the 2010s. George even had a stint as caretaker and permanent manager in the 2012/13 season, before being named CEO of the club in 2014.