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Lincolnvs.Portsmouth

sportsmole.co.uk, 25 April 2024, 14:14
Lincoln City will attempt to seal their place in the League One playoffs when they welcome Portsmouth to the LNER Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors have already secured promotion and the league title, ensuring that they head into the final day of the season in a celebratory mood.

Match preview

Lincoln edged out Cheltenham Town last weekend to take advantage of Oxford United's draw against Stevenage and move into sixth position with just one game left to play.

Joe Taylor cancelled out Liam Sercombe's 15th-minute penalty, before Freddie Draper found the net to clinch three precious points.

After claiming back-to-back away wins over Oxford and Cheltenham, the Imps will now return to the LNER Stadium since their nine-game unbeaten home run was ended by a 2-1 defeat to Wigan Athletic.

With just two points separating four teams, Michael Skubala's side will enter the final day of the season knowing that they could finish as high as fifth and as low as eighth.

Due to their goal difference advantage over Oxford, Lincoln know that a win would almost certainly be enough to secure a top-six finish, while a failure to claim all three points will leave them relying on results elsewhere.

In contrast to their hosts, Portsmouth will have no pressure on their shoulders after they sealed promotion and the League One title with a 3-2 win over Barnsley earlier this month.

Having racked up 94 points from 45 matches, Pompey are now looking forward to next season when they will compete in the Championship for the first time since 2011-12.

However, before they can officially start preparations for the 2024-25 campaign, John Mousinho's side will attempt to complete a league double over Lincoln after recording a narrow 2-1 victory in September's reverse fixture.

Pompey saw their 17-game unbeaten run come to an end in last Saturday's home game against Wigan Athletic, with Kusini Yengi's late strike proving to be a mere consolation in a 2-1 defeat.

Although they may have lost their final home games of the season, Portsmouth still have the chance to extend their unbeaten away streak to 10 matches.

Lincoln City League One form:

W

W

D

L

W

W

Portsmouth League One form:

W

D

W

D

W

L

Team News

Lincoln winger Reece Hackett is unlikely to play against his former club after he sustained a shoulder injury against Oxford earlier this month.

Having missed the last three matches, midfielder Teddy Bishop will have to be assessed ahead of the final game of the season.

Dylan Duffy is available following a one-match suspension, and the 21-year-old could be given the chance to start on the left side of midfield.

As for the League One champions, they are still unable to call upon Alex Robertson, Regan Poole, Tom McIntyre, Joe Morrell and Zak Swanson.

Mousinho could be tempted to make a couple of changes, with Paddy Lane and Yengi both in contention to start against the Imps.

Colby Bishop has work to do to finish the season as the league's top scorer, with the forward two goals shy of Charlton Athletic's Alfie May.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Jensen; Mitchell, O'Connor, Roughan; Sorensen, Erhahon, Mandroiu, Duffy; House; Taylor, Draper

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie; Moxon, Pack; Kamara, Bishop, Lane; Yengi

We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Portsmouth

Having already secured promotion, Portsmouth have little to play for on the final day of the season, but they will still be keen to extend their unbeaten away run to 10 matches.

After drawing three of their last five away games, we think that Pompey will do enough to dent Lincoln's playoff hopes by holding their hosts to a draw in Saturday's contest.

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