Preview: Fleetwood Town vs. Lincoln City - prediction, team news, lineups

Fleetwood will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Derby County last Saturday, while Lincoln suffered a 3-0 defeat to Peterborough United on the same afternoon.

Match preview

Fleetwood have been present in League One since 2014, twice losing in the semi-finals of the playoffs, but they finished down in 20th position last season.

The Fishermen are not in a playoff race at this stage of the campaign, currently sitting 12th in the table, some 18 points behind sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers.

Scott Brown's side are 11 points clear of the relegation zone, meanwhile, and they will enter this match off the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over Derby last time out.

An own goal from Joseph Wildsmith sent Fleetwood ahead at Pride Park before Carlos Gomes doubled the away side's advantage in the 30th minute.

Fleetwood are winless in their last three matches against Lincoln, but the last two games have finished level, including a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture back in August.

Lincoln have been in League One since their relegation from League Two in 2019, finishing 16th, fifth and 17th in the third tier of English football in their last three seasons.

The Imps have picked up 45 points from their 36 league matches this term, which has left them in 14th position in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Lincoln have not been victorious since the start of March, picking up just one point from their last three matches against Cheltenham Town, Exeter City and Peterborough United.

Mark Kennedy's side suffered a 3-0 home loss to Peterborough last weekend, and they have actually won more league matches away (five) than at home (four) this term.

Lincoln have lost only one of their last six league matches against Fleetwood, meanwhile, recording two wins in the process, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Highbury Stadium last season.

Fleetwood Town League One form:

W

W

L

L

D

W

Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

D

W

Lincoln City League One form:

D

D

W

D

L

L

Team News

Fleetwood have no fresh injury concerns from their two-goal success over Derby last time out, and due to the manner of the performance and result, the hosts could be unchanged for this match.

Jayden Stockley provided the assist for Gomes's goal at Pride Park, and he is expected to continue in the final third of the field alongside Jack Marriott.

Harvey Macadam will be in Brown's thinking when it comes to a potential starting role, but the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against the Rams should again start here.

As for Lincoln, Ethan Erhahon was forced off in the latter stages of the first period against Peterborough last time out, and he could now be replaced by Edward Bishop.

There might also be a change in the final third of the field, with Luke Plange featuring alongside Ben House and Daniel Mandroiu in a front three.

Lincoln have no fresh injury concerns heading into this match, but Kennedy is set to make changes due to the disappointment of the result last time out.

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Rooney, Sarpong-Wiredu, Holgate, Earl, Ndaba; Gomes, Warrington, Vela; Marriott, Stockley

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Montsma, Jackson, O'Connor; Sorensen, Virtue-Thick, Bishop, Roughan; Plange, House, Mandroiu

We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Lincoln City

There is not an awful lot between these two teams in terms of quality, and we are expecting a close match on Saturday afternoon. Fleetwood have struggled for home wins this season, while Lincoln have only won five games on their travels, so the spoils could be shared in this contest.

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