- Founded: 1884
- Nickname: The Imps
- Honours: Division Three North: 1931/32, 1947/48 & 1951/52. League Two: 1975/76. Conference: 1987/88 & 2016/17. Football League Trophy: 2017/18
The club formed in 1884 and took the nickname the Imps after the legend of the Lincoln Imp.
The Imps had to wait almost half a decade before the first major title success which came in 1932, but did enjoy their highest-ever finish of fifth-placed in the Second Division in 1902.
Lincoln peaked in 1976 after winning the Third Division – then League Two – but it’s in very recent years that the club have enjoyed for the first time in almost thirty years.
In 2017, they won the Conference and had their finest FA Cup run in their history after reaching the quarter-finals before bowing out to Arsenal. A year later and the club had added a Football League Trophy to their growing trophy list.
Oxford 4 Northampton 0 – League 2
Matt Taylor struck twice to take his tally for the season to seven.
Oxford’s Josh Ruffels shot against the post before the break while for Northampton, Fraser Horsfall headed a corner wide.
Striker Taylor began the rout by heading in from three yards after Sean Clare’s cross looped over goalkeeper Steve Arnold four minutes after the break.
Olamide Shodipo then doubled the U’s lead in the 65th minute, firing into the bottom corner after cutting in from the left.
Taylor got his second when he headed in Jordan Obita’s centre a minute from time.
And in stoppage time, substitute Dan Agyei fired in a brilliant individual effort from 20 yards to complete the scoring.
The beleaguered visitors were without 10 players because of injuries and suspensions, including five defenders.
Boss Keith Curle gave a first start to 17-year-old Max Dyche, son of Burnley manager Sean.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yfnzPpIe8r4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Lincoln 0 Shrewsbury 1 – League 2
Shaun Whalley’s 38th-minute strike secured Steve Cotterill’s men a deserved success, with a stout second-half rearguard effort keeping out the second-placed Imps.
It took until the 23rd minute for either side to have a shot at goal, with Charlie Daniels’ effort from the edge of the box easily gathered by City goalkeeper Alex Palmer.
Shrewsbury took the lead seven minutes before the break. Lewis Montsma ran into trouble on the edge of his own box, with Whalley nicking the ball off the dithering Imps defender then taking his time before slotting the ball past Palmer.
It took until first-half stoppage-time for Lincoln to have their first effort on goal, with Montsma’s close-range effort from Jorge Grant’s corner being superbly kept out by Matija.
Just before the hour mark, City midfielder Remy Howarth’s first-time shot struck the base of a post.
Daniels saw a free-kick saved low down by Palmer before Brennan Johnson slammed an effort into the side netting at the other end.
Lincoln finally pressed the urgency button, laying siege to the Shrewsbury goal for the final half-hour but barely creating a worthwhile chance as the visitors grimly hung on.
Lincoln 1 – Northampton 1
After a quiet start to the game, the Imps took the lead after 27 minutes when John Akinde flicked the ball onto Bruno Andrade, who cracked home a superb volley from just inside the box.
The Sky Bet League Two leaders dominated for a spell after the goal and looked in complete control until two key moments saw the game swing towards the visitors.
First, Harry Anderson was shown a straight red card after catching David Buchanan with a rash challenge.
Town then levelled in the fourth and final minute of first-half added time when Jack Bridge’s low cross was turned home by defender Aaron Pierre.
However, the Cobblers failed to make the most of their man advantage in the second half as Lincoln more than held their own.
In fact the Imps could have snatched all three points late on when, following a Tom Pett cross, a huge appeal for a penalty for handball was rejected by referee Michael Salisbury.
Games won: 17
Games drawn: 25
Games lost: 15
CALAM MORTON
A Play-off winning striker with Northampton last season, Callum scored at Wembley as the Cobblers overcame Exeter City 4-0.
Morton arrived at LNER Stadium on loan from Premier League side West Brom in September 2020 alongside Alex Palmer. The forward has previous experience with Braintree Town where he spent time on loan during the 2018/19 campaign, scoring five goals in 14 appearances.
Shropshire based referee Mr Robert Lewis will take charge of Saturdays game at the PTS Academy Stadium v Lincoln City in Sky Bet League One.
So far this season Mr Lewis has been In charge of 15 games and given out 42 yellow cards and 2red cards. Including 6 yellows in his last game which was a 1-1 draw between MK Dons and Peterborough.
Mr Lewis last Cobblers game was in August 2019 in the EFL Trophy at the PTS Academy Stadium, a 1-1 draw with Arsenal under 21’s. Where there was 4 yellow cards and 1 red cards.
His last Lincoln game was also in the EFL trophy in October 2019 v Manchester United u21’s where the Imps lost 1-0.
He will be assisted by Nicholas Cooper and Bradley Hall
Fourth Official : Michael Chard
Northampton Town host Lincoln City on Saturday and if you are not one of the 2,000 season ticket holders able to attend, you can purchase a match pass to watch the game live on iFollow.A match pass for this game costs just £10 for all UK based supporters and can be purchased here.
Fans overseas will be able to view on Season Passes or by purchasing a match pass.
