Comparing Two Lincoln City Record Unbeaten Runs – Match by Match

Match 16

Sa 21 Feb 2026 – Mansfield – 2-0 (A)
Sa 23 Mar 2019 – Crawley – 3-0 (A)

Mansfield again (olé olé), Field Mill again as well. The recent visit was no less of a fight, but they’re not a rival for promotion as they were in 2018/19, and Tom Bayliss’ late goal added gloss to a scoreline opened after Rob Street’s first half penalty.

Crawley away was a big day. City had a big goal scored (I want to say 6,500th, but as I write this at 9:38 pm, I just want to go to bed rather than check), and I went straight from there to a gig in London. Crawley were poor, really poor.

Match 17

Sa 28 Feb 2026 – Blackpool – 4-0 (H)
Sa 30 Mar 2019 – Macclesfield – 1-1 (H)

Those wins keep coming this season, and Blackpool were easily brushed aside by City. They were all at sea, as was I on March 30th, 2019. I was on Lindisfarne with my new dog and future wife, and so had to listen (imagine, not watching every game) to the radio. A spirited Macclesfield side was struggling at the bottom of the table, but they avoided the drop in the end, and their fighting spirit during this game showed why. Neal Eardley scored for us, cancelling out Scott Wilson’s opener.

Match 18

Sa 07 Mar 2026 – Cardiff – 2-0 (A)
Sa 06 Apr 2019 – MK Dons – 2-0 (A)

As if two games that have drawn such comparisons were the 18th game in an unbeaten run that could end up in promotion. Huge away followings (3,000 to Cardiff, 5,000 to MK Dons) backed the Imps, and Conor McGrandles played in both matches – once for MK Dons and once for us.

He looks better in red and white. This was the day the League Two title was effectively won (we got two points from the next five matches), but it’ll take a bit more for us to rubber-stamp Championship football.

Match 19

Tu 10 Mar 2026 – Exeter – 1-0 (A)
Sa 13 Apr 2019 – Cheltenham – 1-1 (H)

And finally (at least in 2018/19) we have the day promotion was confirmed. George Lloyd’s 73rd-minute goal couldn’t dampen spirits as City sealed a spot in League One thanks to Shay McCartan’s 18th-minute opener.

I don’t need to tell you what happened in match 19 this season, do I?

Match 20

Fr 19 Apr 2019 – Carlisle – 0-1 (A)

It all came to an end in Cumbria on Good Friday. Jason Shackell was sent off after 30 minutes, Shay McCartan came off injured after 34, and we never got going at Burnton Park, leading to the end of the run.

Can City go one better this weekend against Stockport?

The Runs In Full

2025/26

2018/19