Match Preview: Lincoln City VS Hull City

Could today be the day? Hull City make the trip across the Humber to Sincil Bank knowing three points would seal an instant return to the Sky Bet Championship.

The task in front of Grant McCann’s side in order to gain promotion on looks fairly simple – from a permutations point of view- , however it will be far from it against The Imps who have regained their mojo in recent weeks, winning their last three matches including a 4-0 hammering of MK Dons in their last home game.

The Tigers, as has been the case in a handful of games in the current 12-game unbeaten run , showed great character and desire to earn what could prove to be such a valuable point against Sunderland in a game which wasn’t short of controversial moments. A Key man for Grant McCann’s system this season has been Josh Magennis, who comes into this game in a rich vein of goal scoring form – 5 in as many games- , and again he could well be the difference maker this afternoon. Grant McCann has also confirmed that there are no injury concerns for The Tigers , despite potential concern over Jacob Greaves , who was victim of an elbow from Charlie Wyke in midweek.

This game has the potential to also be won and lost in the middle of the park, with both sides possessing goal threats and creativity from deep. This has definitely been the case for the likes of Greg Docherty and George Honeyman for The Tigers, and from a Lincoln perspective, Conor McGrandles and James Jones who have 13 goal contributions between them.

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton will be hopeful that one of his side’s key men Jorge Grant, who returned to the Imps 17 in their 1-0 success at Burton following an ankle injury sustained in February, will be able to start against City. Grant is currently their top scorer and is also highest on their assist chart so far this season ( 11 & 6 are his respective numbers).

As well as Grant, Lincoln have also been blessed with some of the most talented youngsters in League One this season in the form of Brennan Johnson, who is currently on 10 goals for the campaign , which included a hat-trick against MK Dons on April 13th. Anthony Scully also provides threat from out wide, with 9 goals this season he also averages a goal every 44 minutes in the 35 games he has started this season.

In either of the two previous encounters between the sides this season, it has been The Tigers who have been the more dominant side, despite both matches ending in draws after 90 minutes, albeit Lincoln would progress on penalties in the Papa John’s Trophy. This game has the prospect of a very open game , with both sides in recent weeks showing their attacking capabilities, something which we didn’t really see from Lincoln in particular in either of the contests in February.

City fans will also be hoping that for the first time in a quarter of a century, they will leave Lincolnshire with all three points , with the last win coming in September 1996 in the old League Division 3 under Terry Dolan. Funnily enough, a man who would in the future don the Red and White of Lincoln City was on the scoresheet that day, Richard Peacock got the only goal that afternoon. Indeed, all trips to Sincil Bank since that day have ended with 5 defeats and 1 draw.

Score Prediction: Lincoln City 1-2 Hull City