Middlesbrough were the penultimate team to visit Sincil Bank the last time Lincoln City were in the second tier, and they’ll play host to the Class of 26 come the opening day of the season.
The Imps broke a League One record last season, going 29 matches unbeaten and securing 103 points as all before us were swept away. Middlesbrough broke a record as well: they’re the first team to lose both a two-legged semi-final and a play-off final in the same season.
They were the lucky side progressing to the Championship play-offs courtesy of Southampton’s expulsion for spying, only to lose again in the final. It means Kim Hellberg’s side remains in the second tier and are able to welcome the Imps to the Riverside for our first competitive visit.
Reflecting on the opening day fixture, Hellberg admitted he was looking forward to it and to getting some points on the board as they look to once again finish in the top six.
“I’m looking forward to that first game and, as quickly as we can, looking at what fixtures we have and trying to figure out if it’s good or bad. But that’s always difficult to know, I think,” he told the Gazette Live.
“I learned something last year that there are no easy games in the Championship. There are tough games everywhere, and they give you so many different challenges. I’m just looking forward to playing the games, to start competing again and to see the fans.”
He did specifically address Lincoln already the favourites for the drop in the division, noting we were one of a number of new faces his side were set to face.
“As well as Lincoln coming up, there are also two big clubs in Cardiff and Bolton coming up from League One.
“Bolton were a Premier League club for a long time, and Cardiff were also in the Premier League not so long ago. That’s two big clubs.
“Then, of course, West Ham, Wolves and Burnley are coming down. So it’s a lot of good clubs, a lot of big games, and a lot of good stadiums. It’s a brilliant league to be in.
“I’m looking forward to playing every game and trying to achieve something great. We will try to build on everything we started last season.”
City last visited Teeside in competitive football in November 1960, drawing 1-1, but have not clashed with Boro since then. Our last win came in March 1959, 2-1, but those games were played at the old Ayresome Park.
Middlesbrough did visit the Imps back in the early 90s as a Premier League team, losing 5-1 in a friendly, and ending up relegated nine months later.
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