Lincoln City face Championship side Bristol City away from home tomorrow night for a spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. The game will be played at Ashton Gate, with a kick-off time of 7:45pm.
Lincoln City Form
The Imps have been in relatively good form over the past month, but things have tailed off in recent weeks, with Mark Kennedy’s side without a win in three games. Last time out was another disappointment for City as they saw themselves knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league side Chippenham Town away from home, with the League One club failing to score. Despite a poor run of games at the moment, City have impressed under the new management of Mark Kennedy, with a number of impressive wins against the big sides in League One, such as Ipswich Town and Derby County.
Likely Starting XI
Mark Kennedy could stick with the back five despite the result against Chippenham. The system has worked multiple times against big sides but with Bristol City not registering a win in four games it could be a good opportunity to shock our cup opposition. The back four worked better in the second half on Saturday and that may see Mark move back towards it and here is what it may look like.
Jordan Wright, TJ Eyoma, Regan Poole, Joe Walsh, Sean Roughan, Matty Virtue, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Max Sanders, Charles Vernam, Freddie Draper, Jordon Garrick
Jordan Wright is likely to keep his spot in goal, with Carl Rushworth undertaking concussion protocols at the moment and it is another game for Wright to prove that he could be our number one in the future. I’ve put Joe Walsh back into the side, who is likely to start with his one game a week recovery plan on the left-hand side of the back four. Sean Roughan comes back in after being hooked at half-time against Chippenham and also because Jamie Robson has played two ninety minutes in a week. I’ve reverted to a three in midfield in my predicted line-up. I’d like to see Tashan Oakley-Boothe come back into the side as I think this could be a game, he could thrive in against higher quality opposition. I’ve made a change in attack, with Jordon Garrick coming back into the side as he is not cup-tied for this competition and I’m hoping he is back fit. We haven’t played in this competition since Jack Diamond arrived so I’m unaware if he will be available and I’m also unsure if Ben House will be fit so I’ve stuck with Charles Vernam and Freddie Draper alongside Garrick.
Bristol City Form
A good start to the Championship season in the summer has now faded into a poor run for Bristol City, whose winless period in the second tier stretched to four games with a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. However, Nigel Pearson’s side will want to progress through to the next round having already beaten Coventry City 4-1, and Wycombe Wanderers 3-0 in the first two rounds of the competition.
Bristol City Key Players
Nahki Wells and Andreas Weimann will be a threat for the Imps’ backline on Tuesday night with the pair having twelve goals between them this season. Wells’ strike partner Tommy Conway will also be a threat, with the young striker having already scored in the competition this season as well as having six league goals to his name. Veteran midfielders Matty James and Andy King are always a threat in the middle of the park, with both players being at Leicester City during their title campaign and the latter playing a crucial part in the title glory.
Timm Klose is a player to watch out for at the back, having spent most of his career going between the Premier League and the Championship, while also being capped for Switzerland a total of seventeen times.