Crawley Town's bid to escape the League One relegation zone will continue on Tuesday night, when they make the trip to Sincil Bank Stadium to tackle Lincoln City.
The visitors are currently 23rd in the League One table, six points from the safety of 20th spot, while Lincoln are 13th, 10 points above the relegation zone entering the latter stages of the campaign.
Match preview
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Lincoln have a record of 11 wins, 10 draws and 13 defeats from their 34 league matches this season, with a total of 43 points leaving them in 13th spot in the table, 10 points above the relegation zone and some 13 points off the playoff spots.
As a result, it would not be unfair to say that there is not too much for the team to play for in the final weeks of the campaign, but they will of course want to finish as high up the division as physically possible.
The Imps finished seventh in League One last season, only two points outside of the playoffs, but it has been more difficult this term, and they are currently in disappointing form, losing three of their last four league matches.
Michael Skubala's side were involved in a seven-goal thriller with Barnsley in the league on Saturday, with the visitors scoring twice late on to make it a grandstand finish, but they ultimately could not find a fourth goal at Oakwell.
The Imps have faced Crawley twice this term, recording a 4-3 victory in the FA Cup back in November, but the reverse league game between the two sides ended in a 3-0 Crawley victory in October 2024.
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Crawley, meanwhile, will enter this contest off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Cambridge United, with that result following a 3-1 reverse at Blackpool in their last game of February.
The Red Devils secured a spot in League One via last season's League Two playoffs, so survival was always going to be their main aim for this season, but they are involved in a battle towards the bottom of the division.
Indeed, Rob Elliot's side have a record of seven wins, eight draws and 18 defeats from their 33 league matches this season, with 29 points leaving them in 23rd spot in the table, six points behind 20th-placed Bristol Rovers.
It is not time to hit the panic button, as there are still plenty of points to play for, but Crawley have the worst defensive record in the division this season, conceding 60 times in their 33 matches.
The Red Devils have lost 11 of their 17 away league matches this season, picking up only 12 points in the process, while Lincoln have 22 points from their 16 home fixtures during the 2024-25 campaign.
Team News
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Lincoln are expected to have the same squad available from Saturday's defeat to Barnsley, and head coach Skubala is likely to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to his side.
That said, Jovon Makama's goal off the bench at Oakwell could earn him a spot in the starting side, with the 21-year-old now on seven goals for the 2024-25 campaign.
Ben House is likely to feature alongside Makama in the final third of the field, with Freddie Draper potentially the player to drop down to the bench for the contest with Crawley.
The visitors did not suffer any fresh fitness problems against Cambridge United, but they will be without the services of Rushian Hepburn-Murphy for this match, with the 26-year-old sent off on the hour on Saturday.
As a result, there will have to be at least one change to the Crawley XI, and Will Swan could be the player to benefit.
Swan has seven goals to his name during the 2024-25 campaign, making him the joint-leading goalscorer in the squad alongside Tola Showunmi, but the latter may again be named among the substitutes.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jeacock; Montsma, Jackson, Roughen; Darikwa, Hamilton, McGrandles, Bayliss, Jefferies; Makama, House
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Wollacott; Barker, Conroy, Feely; Quitirna, Fraser, Ibrahim, Doyle, Forster; John-Jules; Swan
We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Crawley Town
Both sides will enter this match in disappointing form, and we are struggling to back either with any real confidence; Lincoln have home advantage and are higher up the division, but we can see Crawley claiming a valuable point on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
