After an almost two-week hiatus from league action, the Imps return this weekend to take on Wimbledon, with promotion to the Championship now within reach, writes Kyle Fox.
The Dons are currently in 14th place, in the heart of a pack of sides sitting in and around mid-table. Including themselves, three other teams are level on points at present. Peterborough, Barnsley and Doncaster also sit on 50 points, with all four sides separated only by goal difference. Just below those teams are Mansfield and Leyton Orient, who sit on 49 points, while Luton are placed directly above Peterborough in 11th on 55 points.
Wimbledon’s points tally leaves them seven points clear of the relegation zone, having also played a game fewer than 21st-placed Exeter City. At the same time, they are 11 points off Reading in sixth, again with a game in hand.
The Wombles have struggled defensively this season. They rank 23rd for clean sheets in the league with just seven in total, a rate of 18%, which is far below the league average of 27%. Interestingly, despite ranking eighth for away results this season, Johnnie Jackson’s side sit bottom for goals conceded away from home. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five away matches and in 18 of the 20 away games they have played this season.
Notably, 21% of the goals they have conceded have come within the first 15 minutes of matches. This could play into a major strength of Lincoln, who have become renowned this season for fast starts. Michael Skubala’s side have scored the opening goal in 28 of their 39 matches so far. They also lead the table for half-time results and have been ahead at the break in 26 of those 39 games.
Wimbledon Form
After a strong run of form from the start of February to the middle of March, during which their only defeat came away at Cardiff, Wimbledon briefly entered the conversation as outside contenders for a play-off spot. Across that period, they played eight league games, winning five, drawing two and losing just once, scoring 18 goals and conceding 13.
Since then, they have played four matches, losing three and drawing one. During this run, they have conceded nine goals and scored just three. Their most recent outing was a 3-0 defeat away at Stockport County, a result that arguably flattered the hosts. The game was competitive, with Wimbledon registering more shots overall, the same number on target (four), and more big chances (three compared to two).
Jackson’s side rank relatively low in several key attacking metrics, including 13th for goals per match (1.3), 13th for shots on target per match (3.3), and 22nd for touches in the opposition box (698). However, they rank ninth for set-piece goals scored (14), fourth for accurate crosses per match (5.1), 10th for big chances created (84), and seventh for big chances missed (52).
Marcus Browne has been a talisman and a constant threat leading the line for Wimbledon this season. He is the club’s top league scorer with 12 goals, three more than Matthew Stevens, who has nine. Steve Seddon has also been a key performer, contributing eight assists in the league campaign.
Team News
Johnnie Jackson welcomed both Kai Jennings and Osman Foyo into the matchday squad for the first time this season after the pair were recalled from loan spells at Sutton United. Both players were substituted on in the previous match against Stockport.
However, a trio of key players were forced off early against Peterborough on 21st March. Matthew Stevens lasted just 13 minutes before going off injured, Marcus Hippolyte was withdrawn in the 37th minute, and Marcus Browne was substituted at half-time. Jackson later confirmed that Stevens has suffered a hamstring injury likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Hippolyte is expected to be out for a few weeks but could return before the end of the campaign, while Browne’s injury is less serious but still likely to rule him out of this fixture.
Midfielder James Tilley has been sidelined since early March, Aron Sasu since late December, and Layton Stewart has yet to feature since joining on loan in January from FC Thun.
For the Imps, the main update is that Adam Reach will miss the remainder of the season. Otherwise, the injury situation remains unchanged. Freddie Draper and Adam Jackson are working hard in the gym in hopes of returning before the end of the season, while James Collins remains a long-term absentee. January signing Josh Honohan is still awaiting his debut but appears closest to a return, having resumed individual training on the grass.
Predicted Wimbledon XI
McDonnell, Johnson, Lewis, Ogundere, Seddon, Maycock, Smith, Reeves, Nkeng, Bugiel, Nelson.
Previous Meetings
The most recent meeting between the sides came in August, in just the second game of the season for both teams. After Adam Jackson was sent off in the 23rd minute for a high foot, the match became increasingly difficult for Lincoln. Eighteen minutes later, Sonny Bradley conceded a penalty for handball, and Wimbledon’s pressure eventually led to a second goal, sealing all three points.
Prior to that, the last meeting came in March 2022 at Plough Lane, where goals from Lewis Fiorini and Teddy Bishop secured a vital 2-0 away win for the Imps. Earlier that season, in their most recent visit to Sincil Bank, Wimbledon claimed all three points thanks to an early penalty, which proved to be their only shot on target. Before that defeat, City were unbeaten in three league meetings with the Wombles, recording one win and two draws.
Prediction
Lincoln 2–0 Wimbledon
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