As 2024 comes to an end, LincSport looks back at the year that Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City had.
Sky Bet League One – Final day heartbreak:
If you were to ask most Lincoln City fans about their predictions on January 27, few would have said that they would close the fourteen-point gap to Stevenage, who occupied the final play-off place. This came after City’s goalless draw at home to Peterborough United, extending the Imps’ winless run to ten games in all competitions.
What was to follow was unpredictably remarkable.
Michael Skubala’s side went 16 games unbeaten, losing only two of their final 20 games, scoring 36 goals in this time, including 16 in a single week.
The 5-1 success at Barnsley, backed up by a 6-0 drumming of Cambridge United, as well as a 5-0 thrashing of Bristol Rovers over that week, were all season highlights.
Three months to the day that the Imps went ten without a win, they found themselves occupying that final play-off place at the start of the final day of the season. Some turnaround.
City’s fortunes ran out at the last, when already champions Portsmouth came to the LNER Stadium.
Midfielder Danny Mandroiu’s slipped penalty was saved by Will Norris before Pompey scored twice late on, to ensure that it was Oxford United who would snatch the final spot off the Imps. They would go onto win the play-offs and secure promotion to the Championship.
The run brought life back to a season which looked to be petering into mid-table boredom, and gave the club attention it had not seen in the league since the COVID-19 years of now Premier League stars, Brennan Johnson and Morgan Rogers.
2024/25 (so far):
City’s current campaign has seen the standard of League One rise, with many saying it is the most competitive the division has been in some time. The entries of financially healthy Wrexham and Stockport County from League Two have given an extra two immediate challengers for promotion.
Relegated Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town are desperate for a return to the second division and have some impressive squads for this level. Many punters had as many as 12 potential teams who all thought they had promotion winning teams, including the Imps, to fill only three spaces.
City started well with victories in three of their opening four games, only losing to Barnsley, including a 4-1 thrashing of neighbours Mansfield Town at Sincil Bank. That win sparked another unbeaten run of seven games to keep Skubala’s side in the play-off picture.
However, the Imps started to slip towards Christmas, winning once in their seven league matches before a 2-0 win over Reading, to sign off for Christmas.
The year ended on a sour note for the side after the 3-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers, which saw Ethan Erhahon, a player heavily linked with moves away from the club, sent off for dissent on two occasions.
LincSport reporter Finley Smithson reflects on the league campaign:
“This season, the Imps have been slower than how they ended last, sitting in 12th. Injuries haven’t helped City this season, losing the likes of Adam Jackson, Reeco Hackett, as well as new signings Tom Bayliss and JJ McKiernan. Michael Skubala has had to use the whole squad already, but has benefited from the likes of Lewis Montsma returning from injury in a rich vein of form.
“There is no doubt that Skubala will look to strengthen his side as City will need to fight back the six point gap to the last play-off spot, currently held by managerless Reading.”
Cup Competitions:
Carabao Cup: Round 1 (Lincoln City 1-2 Harrogate Town)
It was a disappointing Carabao Cup in the season after the competition delivered a tie with Premier League West Ham United. Defeat to League Two side Harrogate Town at home for a rotated Imps side ended this year’s run.
FA Cup: 3rd Round vs Birmingham City (A)
City have had a better run in the FA Cup, after last year’s first round defeat at home to Morecambe, making it to the third round for the first time since 2019.
To get this far, they have had to see off non-league Chesham United in a professional 4-0 away victory, and win a seven-goal thriller, beating Crawley Town 4-3.
Vertu Trophy: Round of 16 vs Bolton Wanderers (H)
This competition has a new name every year it seems, but for now it is called the Vertu Trophy, and City remain in the competition, reaching the round of 16.
The group stages started with defeat to League Two Chesterfield at the LNER Stadium, with the newly promoted EFL side going onto win Northern Group G. A dramatic comeback win over local rivals Grimsby Town kickstarted the competition for the Imps, with Jack Moylan’s 94th minute strike enough to seal all three points.
The final game saw a comfortable 5-0 win over Manchester City’s U21s side at the LNER Stadium, including a first senior goal at Sincil Bank for Zane Okoro.
City’s reward for a win over Morecambe in the knockouts is the chance to make the quarter finals when they host Bolton on January 14.
LincSport Deputy Editor Spencer O’Leary gives his thoughts on City’s cup ties:
“City have made use of the cup competitions better than in previous seasons. Despite no glamorous Premier League opponents this year, they have gone about their business professionally and leave themselves in a handy position in the Virtu Trophy and FA Cup. The defeat to Harrogate Town in the Carabao Cup was a disappointment but they have put that behind them have focused elsewhere.
“For me, City have a chance of going all the way in the Virtu Trophy and have utilised the squad effectively to this point, giving many players minutes in the competition. It’s the competition where the Imps have the highest chance of achieving some silverware.”