The 2025/26 season has seen Lincoln City welcome world champions Chelsea to the LNER Stadium as well as recent Premier League sides Luton Town, Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town.
Despite that, Jack Moylan has still described tomorrow’s clash with Bradford City as Lincoln City’s “biggest game of the season.”
And while this fixture often has a lot riding on it for other reasons, it’s hard to disagree with the Irish winger as this time around it’s all about the football, having the potential to define a season.
A win for the Imps would mean their chances of playing Championship football next season multiply as it would see them move to nine points clear of third place.
But if they allow the Bantams to become just the second visiting side to win at the LNER Stadium this season then and all of a sudden, it’s no longer in their hands.
Credit: Graham Burrell
Opponents: Bradford City
Bradford go into the six-pointer in mixed form, having picked up just one win in their last four games and sitting in fourth place in Sky Bet League One.
Like City, Graham Alexander’s side are battling for promotion to the Championship this season, a win being a must in tomorrow’s game as they look to close the gap between themselves and the automatic places to just three points.
Bobby Pointon is one to watch for the game as the 22-year-old attacking midfielder is the side’s joint top goalscorer on seven goals, however he is chasing down his first league goal this year.
Team news:
After Thursday night’s narrow win over Burton Albion, man of the moment Jack Moylan said: “It will be the biggest game of the season and anybody that tells you otherwise is probably lying.
“Three points would be absolutely massive, so we’re going out to win the game, we’re not going out to just to sit in and be defensive.”
The Irishman scored twice in the Imps’ 2-1 victory on Thursday and has set the tone for what should be another thrilling game tomorrow night.
In terms of injuries, Michael Skubala recently gave a positive update on Ben House and Tom Bayliss as he said: “Hopefully we will see them not before too long.”
Adam Jackson is “not far behind” the recovery of House and Bayliss, whilst Oscar Thorn is still “a bit further away.”
City have been making moves off the pitch too, completing the signing of Bromley FC defender Deji Elerewe and triggering a one-year extension clause in the contract of Adam Reach.
Head-to-head
Last time the two sides met was in late October, with the game finishing 0-0 at the University of Bradford Stadium.
Before that, the Imps were victorious in all of the last three meetings between the two sides as they won the previous fixture 3-0 in the Vertu Trophy.
This meeting will mark the 86th time the two sides have faced off against each other and the record in that time is fairly equal with Bradford narrowly leading the way with 33 victories.
Played for Both:
The most notable name to have played for Lincoln City and Bradford is Paudie O’Connor, a man who captained both sides during his time at the clubs.
The Irishman joined the West Yorkshire side in 2018 initially on loan deal from Leeds United before signing on a free transfer the following season.
He made 129 appearances over four years for the Bantams before joining Lincoln City also on a free transfer where he played 121 times before moving onto Reading this summer.
Other names to have featured for both sides include current Lincoln defender Adam Reach – who, as previously mentioned, just extended his stay at City, as well as former Bradford City manager Neil Redfearn and journeyman striker Kevin Ellison.