Wycombe Wanderers will be looking to preserve their status at the top of the League One table when they travel to LNER Stadium to face Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams do battle for the first time since January when they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Adams Park.
Match preview
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Since suffering back-to-back defeats against Birmingham City and Crawley Town in mid-October, Lincoln have put together a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions, with eight points accumulated across their last four League One fixtures.
Successive 2-1 home wins over Stockport County and Northampton Town were followed by consecutive away draws with Bristol Rovers and Exeter City, playing out a goalless stalemate with the latter last weekend.
Michael Skubala's side have picked up the same number of points on home soil as they have on the road (13 each) this term, and they currently sit sixth in the third-tier standings - occupying the final playoff spot - six points adrift of Saturday's opponents Wycombe, who also have a game in hand.
Before facing third-placed Wrexham next Tuesday, Lincoln will focus on their encounter with a Wycombe outfit whom they have not lost against in their last five meetings, drawing three and winning two, including a 3-0 success in this exact fixture back in August of last season.
The Imps will likely rely on their set-piece specialities to find the net this weekend, as they have scored more goals from dead-ball situations (excluding penalties) than any other side in League One so far this season (10), with five of their last nine league goals coming from such situations.
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Few would have envisaged Wycombe mounting a serious title challenge in League One at the start of the season, especially after they lost their opening two matches against Wrexham and title favourites Birmingham.
However, the Chairboys have since picked up an impressive 32 points from a possible 36 available across their last 12 league games, winning each of their last six matches by an aggregate score of 16-3.
No team in League One have won more away games (five) or collected more away points (17) than Wycombe (17) thus far, with Matt Bloomfield's side most recently following up a thumping 5-0 win at Stockport with a slender 1-0 success at Wigan Athletic a fortnight ago.
Wycombe were most recently in action on November 12 when they beat Crawley Town 2-1 at Adams Park in the EFL Trophy, a result that secured top spot in Group J and a tie with Swindon Town in last 32.
The Chairboys will now turn their attention to Saturday's league fixture with Lincoln, whom they have failed to beat in each of their last four away league games, while they have won just one of their last eight such visits to LNER Stadium (D3 L4), failing to score in six of those games.
Team News
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Lincoln captain Paudie O'Connor, who was forced off at half time in the draw with Exeter with a dead leg, is yet to take part in training this week and is "touch-and-go" for Saturday's match, according to Skubala.
Adam Jackson, Tom Hamer and Tom Bayliss all remains sidelined with long-term injuries, though, while Ethan Erhahon will have his fitness assessed after playing for 45 minutes last weekend following his recovery from injury.
Bailey Cadamarteri is Lincoln's top scorer so far this season with five goals, and he is set to be joined in attack by target man Ben House, who has found the net just once in his last eight league games.
As for Wycombe, they currently have a clean bill of health and Bloomfield is expected to recall a number of first-team stars who were rested for the EFL Trophy win over Crawley last time out.
Franco Ravizzoli is set to be recalled between the sticks, while Jack Grimmer could be joined in a four-man defence by Joe Low, Caleb Taylor and Daniel Harvie.
Josh Scowen and Aaron Morley are expected to link arms in centre-midfield, while top scorer Richard Kone - who has eight goals to his name - could be joined in attack by Fred Onyedinma, Cameron Humphreys and Daniel Udoh.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Montsma, O'Connor, Roughan; Darikwa, McGrandles, Moylan, Hamilton, Jefferies; Cadamarteri, House
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ravizzoli; Grimmer, Low, Taylor, Harvie; Morley, Scowen; Onyedinma, Humphreys, Udoh; Kone
We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe may have struggled in recent visits to Lincoln, but they travel to LNER Stadium in buoyant mood this weekend and in fine form, making them favourites to come out on top in this one.
Lincoln will fancy their chances of success as they aim to climb up to third in the table, but we are backing a refreshed Chairboys outfit to claim maximum points from this intriguing contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
