Lincoln City return to the LNER Stadium on Saturday, facing Blackpool in SkyBet League One.
The Imps have gone without defeat in league action since a 3-2 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on November 22, a run of 16 games.
Last time out, City claimed all three points against Mansfield Town. Goals from Rob Street and Tom Bayliss, without reply from the Stags, took Michael Skubala’s Imps to within a point of table-topping Cardiff City.
Opponents: Blackpool
Under the management of Ian Evatt, an ever-present figure in Blackpool’s memorable 2010/11 Premier League campaign, the Seasiders sit just three points outside of the League One relegation zone.
Evatt, who replaced Steve Bruce in the dugout in October 2025, has not seen his side taste victory away from Bloomfield Road since before Christmas; a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
Captain James Husband will serve the final game of his three match suspension on Saturday, following an 87th minute red card in Blackpool’s 4-0 defeat to Plymouth earlier this month.
Veteran defender Michael Ihiekwe is expected to be fit to face the Imps, and midfielder Joel Randall could also make his return from injury.
The Tangerines possess lots of third tier and, in turn, EFL experience in their ranks. Striker Niall Ennis scored 12 goals and won the League One title in 2023 with Plymouth Argyle, and midfielder George Honeyman was Hull City’s Player of the Season when they lifted the title two years earlier.
Team News
Freddie Draper remains unavailable for selection as he battles a hamstring problem that saw him substituted after 55 minutes of the 4-0 win over Northampton Town.
Head Coach Michael Skubala said: “It’s a tricky one, we’ll just have to see how he goes. It’s something we’re going to have to manage week by week.”
Josh Honohan is still yet to feature since he joined the Imps from Shamrock Rovers. He has been nursing a “load-related injury” since he signed his Lincoln City contract, and is expected to be fit to make his debut next month.
Skubala has also confirmed that Adam Jackson is back on the grass doing individual work as he steps up his recovery from injury.
Head-to-Head:
The Imps are winless in their last four outings against Blackpool.
The Imps’ last victory over the Tangerines was a 3-0 thrashing at the LNER Stadium in August 2023, with penalties scored by Daniel Mândriou and Teddy Bishop split by a goal from Ethan Erhahon.
In recent history, the most famous time these two sides faced off against one another was in the Covid-affected 2021 League One Play-off Final at Wembley, with Blackpool winning promotion to the Championship with a 2-1 win.
The Imps scored the fastest goal in League One Play-off Final history in that encounter, with an Ollie Turton own-goal giving Michael Appleton’s Imps the lead after just 48 seconds.
Played for Both:
Aston Villa forward and England international Morgan Rogers had loan spells at both Lincoln and Blackpool during his time as a Manchester City player.
Rogers joined the Imps on January 4, 2021, featuring 25 times in League One and netting six goals. He won EFL Young Player of the Month in March, after a run of three goals in seven games.
Exactly two years after he arrived at the LNER Stadium, he linked up with Michael Appleton, now at Bloomfield Road, again for the remainder of the 2022/23 season. He scored once in 20 Championship appearances, Appleton was sacked 14 days into Rogers’ loan spell, and the Seasiders were relegated back to the third tier.