Lincoln City will travel to Lancashire to face Preston North End this Saturday as they look to extend their three-game unbeaten league run.
Despite suffering a defeat on the road in the Carabao Cup at AFC Bournemouth during the week, Lincoln City’s storming start to the season still suspends belief, as they avoided defeat in six of their opening nine games of the season.
Lincoln continue to tear up the pundit’s pre-season predictions of a slow start in the new league, with the side collecting five points in five EFL Championship games so far.
Opponents- Preston North End:
Preston’s bleak start of the season was extended with a loss away at Watford this Tuesday, the 2-1 result pushed the side to the bottom of the league. The Lilywhites have now lost six of their last seven games.
Preston did however secure a win last time they played at Deepdale against Blackburn Rovers. A team that Lincoln shared the points with in a 0-0 draw last week.
City head-coach Chris Cohen said: “We’ve been watching Preston, they are in a false position at the bottom of the table.
“They have played well so far this season, if you look at the data, they have been really unfortunate.”
“You could probably see some similarities between ourselves and them, in the sense that maybe the performances deserve more points.”
Team News:
Lincoln fans saw a change of squad from the status quo against Bournemouth. With head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw making a remarkable ten changes for the cup clash, Ryley Towler was the only player to retain his place in the team.
“The game plan comes first” said Cohen when asked about changes in the team. “The best way we feel we can beat Preston then we will pick the team accordingly.”
“Every time we pick a team it’s to win the game right in front of us.”
Many league starters, such as George Wickens and Ivan Varfolmeev, did not make an appearance against Bournemouth, and should be expected to reclaim their places in the team against Preston.
An update was also provided for established injured players. Defender Tom Hamer is “getting closer” to returning to the squad.
Whilst new signing Mason Melia suffered a leg injury in training on Monday which Cohen said: “Is a shame for him as he was going to be part of the squad.”
Head-to-head:
This will be the first time in 21st century that the Imps will face Preston, with the last meeting coming in February 1999, in what is now known as SkyBet League One.
Lincoln lost that meeting 5-0 in a season where the Imps went on to be relegated as David Moyes’ Preston made the play-offs.
City last got the better of the clash in 1995 when they came out 2-1 victors in the Auto Windscreen’s shield, now the EFL Trophy.
Ultimately, it is the hosts this time around that have come out on top, with North End finding victory on 20 occasions, compared to Lincoln’s 12.
Played for both:
Current Lincoln City players Tom Bayliss and Adam Reach have both had stints at both clubs, with Reach departing before the midfielder arrived.
Bayliss joined the Lilywhites in 2019 and went on to make 12 appearances in a three-year stint in Lancashire, scoring a goal along the way.
Reach on the hand spent just a season on loan at Deepdale in the 2015-16 season as he made 35 appearances.