The Imps will begin their 25/26 FA Cup campaign this Saturday away to Salford City, determined to dodge an upset and secure a second-round spot.
Salford City Form
Salford kicked off their 25/26 League Two campaign at home to Crewe Alexandra, where a goal from Kadeem Harris was only a consolation in a 3–1 defeat to the Railwaymen. The Ammies then registered a first win of the season away to Notts County, defeating the Nottinghamshire side 2-1 courtesy of goals from Adebola Oluwo and Kelly N’Mai. Another 2-1 victory followed, this time at home to Accrington Stanley, and momentum started to build for the Manchester outfit.
A hard-fought 1-0 triumph in Wales over Newport meant Salford picked up a third consecutive victory, with another goal from Oluwo seeing the Ammies take nine points from the first dozen available. A trip to the Bescot Stadium to face Walsall in the game that followed proved too difficult for Karl Robinson’s side, as the Saddlers ran out 1-0 winners. A 1–1 draw at home to Cheltenham preceded a 3–1 victory over Tranmere Rovers, and after seven league fixtures, Salford City occupied the final playoff spot in League Two, sitting seventh with 13 points.
With victories over Shrewsbury and Swindon in the weeks that followed, Karl Robinson’s side won six of their first nine, signalling a promotion push may be ahead. However, defeats to Bristol Rovers, Grimsby and Chesterfield, all sides expected to be in and around the playoff picture, gave the Ammies a reality check as they slipped to 12th place in the League table.
Salford notched an impressive win in Kent last weekend, defeating Gillingham by two goals to one, and now sit third with 25 points from 14 games.
Team News
Adam Jackson is set to remain on the sidelines for tomorrow’s clash as he works towards his recovery, and usual absentees Dom Jefferies and Jack Moylan are both still out with their respective long term injuries, but the pair are expected to be back on the grass training in the not too distant future.
Despite picking up five yellow cards across the EFL Cup and League One this season, Ben House will not be suspended for the FA Cup fixture this weekend, but instead the league match against Rotherham United next weekend.
Match Referee
REFEREE: Steven Copeland
Linesmen: Kevin Mulraine and Matthew Malton
Fourth Official: Oliver Bickle
Steven Copeland officiated his first EFL game midway through the 24/25 season, and since has refereed five games in the Football League. This season, Copeland has presided over two league matches, with none taking place in the third tier. In those two games, he gave 19 free kicks, one yellow card and didn’t award a spot kick.
Copeland has officiated one City match, a 1-1 draw with Cambridge United at Sincil Bank back in February, where he handed Joe Gardener a straight red card only a few minutes into his Imps debut.
Previous Meetings
Saturday’s clash with the Ammies will be the first ever competitive meeting with Salford for the Imps, having only faced the David Beckham backed side twice in friendlies, both in preparation for both the 20/21 and 21/22 seasons.
Last season, Salford City reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in their history, only to suffer an 8–0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. The Imps also reached the third round of the Cup for the first time since 2018-19 last season, having beaten Chesham United and Crawley Town both away from home in the first and second round before falling to a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City.
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