Preview: Lincoln City vs. Plymouth Argyle - prediction, team news, lineups

Plymouth sit four points clear at the top of the table, but they suffered a humiliating defeat at Grimsby Town in the FA Cup last weekend, while Lincoln lost at National League South side Chippenham Town at the same time.

Match preview

It was a weekend to forget for the 2017 FA Cup quarter-finalists as Joe Hanks's goal for the non-league outfit knocked Lincoln out of the competition at the earliest possible stage.

However, they were able to provide a shock themselves in midweek, beating Championship side Bristol City in the EFL Cup thanks to strikes from Matty Virtue, Ben House and Paudie O'Connor.

They have suffered similar inconsistencies in their league form, too, taking seven points off of Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley before losing to Port Vale and being held at home against an Accrington Stanley side who had not won a game in their previous five.

They have picked up too many draws which has seen them drop to 14th, but only their opponents this weekend, Ipswich, Wednesday and Portsmouth have lost fewer games than the Imps.

Goals have been hard to come by this season, and Mark Kennedy's side would be one of the lowest scorers if it was not for the remarkable 6-3 win at Bristol Rovers earlier this season.

Lincoln's last league win was at Barnsley but they have not won at Sincil Bank since beating Derby County 2-0 on September 13.

The drubbing at the hands of Grimsby has soured the feeling around Argyle ever so slightly after The Mariners overturned Adam Randell's fifth-minute opener with goals from Andrew Smith, Michee Efete, Anthony Glennon and Brendan Kiernan's brace to give Town a convincing 5-1 win.

The last time they lost this season in the league was also a 5-1 defeat away from home, this time at the hands of Charlton Athletic, and they bounced back from that by going 13 games unbeaten in the division.

Plymouth boast the best home record so far this season, winning their last game against Devon rivals Exeter City 4-2, but they have lost twice on the road, including that demolition by Charlton, however both defeats came in August.

They are the division's top scorers and have shared the scoring load around - Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie have seven each, closely followed by the six from Niall Ennis and Finn Azaz.

They have managed to put the disappointment of cruelly missing the playoffs last season on the final day behind them and, with their next six games coming against sides in the bottom half of the table, their run does not seem like ending any time soon.

Lincoln City League One form:

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L

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Lincoln City form (all competitions):

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Plymouth Argyle League One form:

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Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

W

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L

Team News

House made his return to action against Bristol City after missing the FA Cup game through injury, so he should start up front.

Charles Vernam could keep his place in the lineup as Daniel Mandroiu has not been available in recent weeks, but Jack Diamond should be back after also missing the game at Chippenham.

Plymouth will make changes to the team humiliated at Grimsby, despite it being a relatively strong side.

Bali Mumba should return on the left side of midfield and James Wilson should come back into the defence, while Hardie could lead the line on his own ahead of Sam Cosgrove.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; O'Connor, Jackson, Eyoma; Poole, Virtue, Sorensen, Robson; Vernam, House, Diamond

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Wilson, Scarr, Galloway; Edwards, Randell, Azaz, Mumba; Whittaker, Ennis; Hardie

We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Plymouth Argyle

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