Lincoln City are having a tremendous campaign in SkyBet League One, sitting five points clear at the top and unbeaten in 21 league matches.
The Imps look destined to achieve automatic promotion to the EFL Championship this season after a 65 year absence from England’s second tier.
Despite that, last night almost proved to be a setback for Lincoln, as they went 2-0 down away from home against play-off chasing Huddersfield Town within just 20 minutes of kick-off.
However, a Josh Feeney own goal and a late injury time equaliser scored by substitute Ryley Towler ensured City left the Accu Stadium with a point – and a crucial one at that with both Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers dropping points on the same night.
Bolton, who currently sit third in the table after a goalless draw with Doncaster, trail City by 15 points with just eight games to go, making promotion seem like a matter of when, not if.
So when can Michael Skubala’s men officially confirm their place in the Championship?
Based off City’s incredible run of form, its likely the Imps will take all three points this Saturday as they face a struggling Rotherham United side that are currently sat 22nd in the league.
They will then back themselves to win the following two games against bottom half sides Doncaster Rovers and AFC Wimbledon, potentially taking nine points from their next three games.
When we look at the chances of City taking maximum points from that set of games, its very likely they do given their opponents league positions and the fact that the Lincolnshire outfit have won six of their last seven games, heading into the fixtures on red hot form.
If that scenario plays out, then the game against sixth place Reading on April 6 becomes the all important match that can mathematically secure promotion for the Imps if they manage to leave the Select Car Leasing Stadium with a point.
Failing that, its reasonable to assume that City will get the job done five days later at the LNER Stadium as they face 16th placed Leyton Orient, who the Imps will be looking to enact revenge on given that the O’s beat them 1-0 back in October.
Although, its not all about Lincoln, as slip ups from third place Bolton and fourth place Bradford could lead to even earlier celebrations for the Imps’ faithful.
Should either of the two above mentioned sides drop points in their next three games, then Skubala’s men will most likely confirm promotion at their own stadium on April 3 when they face Wimbledon. That is, as long as the Imps win their next two games.