Birmingham City have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the League One table when they host middling Lincoln City to St. Andrew's Stadium on Saturday.
A victory for the hosts could widen their lead at the top of the standings to 12 points, while the visitors sit 12th, 12 points away from the playoffs and 13 clear of relegation.
Match preview
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Birmingham City suffered relegation from the Championship last season, bringing an end to their 29-year stay in the top two leagues, and the Blues spent big in the summer as they aimed to secure an instant promotion back to the second division.
Birmingham broke the League One transfer record on three separate occasions, including the high-profile acquisition of Jay Stansfield, and the gamble appears to be paying off thus far.
Chris Davies, appointed in June 2024, has impressed in his first managerial role, steering the Blues to the top of the league table with 76 points after 33 matches, from 23 wins, seven draws and three defeats, leaving them nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers.
The Blues could extend that lead over the rest of the division, as Birmingham have played at least one fewer game than every other side in the league, meaning they could move 12 points clear.
They did suffer defeat for the first time in 18 league matches last time out, losing 3-1 to Bolton Wanderers, but the hosts will be confident of bouncing back with a victory.
Their opponents, Lincoln City, are enduring a challenging run of form heading into this clash, recording only two wins in their last eight games, alongside four defeats and two draws.
Those results are part of a wider problem for Lincoln over the past months, as after a strong start to the season that saw them battling for a playoff place, they have subsequently dropped from second to 12th in the table.
Michael Skubala, in charge since November 2023, has guided the Imps to 12 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses from 35 league fixtures, leaving them 12 points behind sixth-placed Huddersfield Town and 13 above 21st-placed Burton Albion.
While they will be boosted by their recent 4-1 demolition of Crawley Town, Lincoln have already lost twice to Birmingham this season, in the league and EFL Cup, leaving them as the underdogs here.
Team News
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Stansfield returned to the matchday squad last time out after missing three Birmingham games due to injury, and the League One top scorer could start in attack on Saturday.
Emil Hansson scored their only goal in the 3-1 defeat to Bolton in his first start since returning from injury, and the winger is expected to start alongside Willum Willumsson and Kieran Dowell.
Elsewhere, Ethan Laird is expected to miss out due to injury, meaning Alfons Sampsted may start in the right-back position after Taylor Gardner-Hickman struggled in the last match.
As for Lincoln City, on the back of their fantastic 4-1 victory over Crawley Town last time out, Skubala may decide to name an unchanged starting team in this one.
Dom Jefferies, Jovon Makama and James Collins all scored in that triumph, and all three are likely to start in attack for Lincoln on Saturday.
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Peacock-Farrell; Sampsted, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Iwata, Paik; Dowell; Willumsson, Hansson; Stansfield
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wickens; Darikwa, Hamer, Jackson, Roughan; Bayliss, McGrandles; Makama, Hackett-Fairchild, Jefferies; Collins
We say: Birmingham City 3-1 Lincoln City
Birmingham City have been dominant in League One this season, including two victories against Lincoln already this campaign, and we expect the Blues to win this fixture for a third time on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
