Preview: Lincoln City vs. Doncaster Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Doncaster Rovers will look to climb off the foot of the League One table on Tuesday, when they travel to Sincil Bank to take on Lincoln City.

Rovers now sit nine points adrift of safety, while their hosts are only five points clear of the drop zone themselves.

Match preview

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After missing out on promotion to the Championship in the playoffs last season, Lincoln City had a tough first half to the new campaign, sitting in danger of relegation with just 22 points from their opening 22 League One outings.

However, Michael Appleton's men appear to have found a new lease of life recently, winning four of their eight games since the turn of the year, accumulating 13 points in the process.

Following victories over Oxford United, Sunderland and Plymouth Argyle in January, the Imps' most recent win came last Tuesday, as Morgan Whittaker and Cohen Bramall got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 beating of Morecambe on home turf.

Appleton's side then made in 13 points from their eight games this year at the weekend, earning an impressive draw against promotion-chasing Wycombe Wanderers, albeit with a feeling of disappointment as the Chairboys pegged them back in the final five minutes.

Despite that slight setback, the Sincil Bank outfit have hugely improved their chances of steering clear of the drop this term, and, sitting 17th with a five-point lead over the bottom four, they may now start to turn their focus upwards with the chance to climb another place with a victory on home turf.

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They welcome a Doncaster side who have a far less enviable standing in the fight for survival, as the Yorkshire outfit sit at the foot of the division with just 22 points from their 32 outings this season, having only earned six victories from those games.

In a particularly difficult campaign, the Keepmoat side suffered a notable rut between November and January, losing 10 out of 11 league games, before wins over promotion-chasing duo MK Dons and Sunderland either side of two more defeats provided somewhat of a lift in the camp.

They have seemingly been unable to build on those surprise victories, though, as Gary McSheffrey's side now come into Tuesday's game on the back of consecutive defeats, firstly falling to a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Ipswich Town before being thrashed 4-0 by Portsmouth at the weekend, with all four goals coming after the interval.

Given their struggles over the course of the entire campaign, it is no surprise that the South Yorkshire outfit find themselves at the foot of the division, although a win could see them leapfrog Crewe Alexandra, who only lead them on goal difference.

Nonetheless, it is safety that the Reds must aim for, and, with just 14 games left to bridge a nine-point gap, they will know they require a drastic turn in form quickly to stand a chance.

Team News

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After a victory and an impressive draw, Lincoln are unlikely to make wholesale changes for Tuesday, with Lewis Montsma, Tom Hopper and Joe Walsh set to remain the only absentees due to injuries.

There is plenty of competition for places in attack, with Liam Cullen and Morgan Whittaker, both of whom arrived on loan for Swansea City, vying for starts alongside Anthony Scully and John Marquis, who will hope to lead the line against the club he netted 66 goals in 153 appearances for.

Chris Maguire also offers plenty of experience going forward, and he may play at the tip of a midfield trio also containing Conor McGrandles and Max Sanders.

Thanks to several January arrivals, Doncaster also have plenty of options to deploy in attack, with Josh Martin, Joe Dodoo and Reo Griffiths starting last time out while Kieran Agard, Ademipo Odubeko and Aidan Barlow are all waiting to be given the nod.

Experienced midfielder Adam Clayton was another key addition in the transfer window, and he will hope to feature from the outset at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Norton-Cuffey, Eyoma, Poole, Bramall; McGrandles, Sanders; Cullen, Maguire, Scully; Marquis

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:
Mitchell; Knoyle, Olowu, Williams, Jackson; Smith, Clayton, Rowe; Martin, Dodoo, Agard

We say: Lincoln City 3-1 Doncaster Rovers

Given their form over the course of the season, we do not expect Doncaster to return to South Yorkshire with anything on Tuesday.

Although the visitors will be desperate for a result, Lincoln have looked a new side since the turn of the year, and we back them to continue their rise with another victory.

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