Lincoln aim to keep momentum going at Deepdale
Lincoln City will head north to Lancashire this Saturday to face Preston North End as they attempt to extend a promising run in their first season back in the EFL Championship. Despite a midweek exit from the Carabao Cup at Bournemouth, the Imps’ start to the campaign has exceeded many pre-season expectations.
Lincoln have avoided defeat in six of their opening nine games overall and collected five points from five league matches so far, a return that has underlined the squad’s competitive transition into a tougher division. The club’s resilient performances have helped silence suggestions of a slow start after promotion.
Preston, by contrast, arrive at Deepdale under pressure. The Lilywhites suffered a 2-1 defeat at Watford earlier this week which left them at the foot of the table, and the side have lost six of their last seven matches. Preston’s defensive struggles have been notable – they have conceded the second most goals in the league to date.
| Team | Notable stat |
|---|---|
| Lincoln City | 5 points from 5 Championship games |
| Preston North End | Second-most goals conceded in the league |
Team selection, rotation and injuries
The cup defeat at Bournemouth saw significant squad rotation from Lincoln’s management. Head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw made a remarkable ten changes for that tie, with centre-half Ryley Towler the only player to retain his place from the usual starting eleven.
- Ten changes were made for the Carabao Cup trip to Bournemouth.
- Ryley Towler was the sole player to keep his place in that lineup.
- Regular starters such as George Wickens and Ivan Varfolmeev did not play in the cup and are expected to return for the league match.
- Injury update: defender Tom Hamer is reported as "getting closer" to a return to contention.
When asked about the extensive rotation, Cohen emphasised that selection is guided by the match plan and the best chance of winning the next game:
"The game plan comes first. The best way we feel we can beat Preston then we will pick the team accordingly. Every time we pick a team it’s to win the game right in front of us."
Those comments point to a pragmatic approach from the coaching staff, balancing squad management across cup and league fixtures while seeking to protect the players’ fitness for the rigours of the Championship.
Opponents and recent form
Preston’s league position belies some aspects of their play, according to Lincoln’s head coach. Cohen suggested their low standing is not entirely representative of their performances, citing data that indicates Preston have been unfortunate and have produced displays that could have yielded more points.
The two clubs met recently in a fixture that finished goalless, a 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale mentioned as part of the context for both teams’ recent campaigns. That result is one of several in a congested early-season schedule where fine margins have made a material difference to league tables.
For Lincoln supporters, the match offers an opportunity to build on momentum and secure a positive result away from home against a side under pressure. For Preston, the fixture is one of several immediate tests they must navigate to arrest a worrying run of results and shore up a leaky defence.
Selection decisions, particularly over players rested against Bournemouth, and the fitness of those returning from injury will be pivotal. The visitors’ ability to combine tactical discipline with the energy to exploit Preston’s defensive vulnerabilities will shape the outcome at Deepdale this weekend.
The game presents a measuring-stick moment for Lincoln’s Championship ambitions in the early weeks of the season: maintain the form that has produced a string of positive results, or face the challenge of regrouping as the campaign intensifies.
