Preview: Lincoln City vs. Hartlepool United - prediction, team news, lineups

Lincoln City will welcome Hartlepool United to Sincil Bank for their FA Cup second-round encounter on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts won 1-0 against eighth-tier outfit Bowers & Pitsea in the first round, while the Monkey Hangers beat Wycombe Wanderers away from home by the same scoreline in a replay, after drawing the initial tie 2-2 on home soil.

Match preview

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Lincoln extended their winless run across all competitions to four matches when they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Carlisle United in the second round of the EFL Trophy, after drawing 1-1 in 120 minutes.

Lewis Montsma missed the decisive spot kick, which saw the League Two outfit eliminate last season's semi-finalists and advance to the next round.

Michael Appleton will be disappointed not to have progressed further in the competition, but will be hoping his side can put things right against another fourth-tier opponent this weekend.

Lincoln's last competitive meeting against Hartlepool was back in October 2007 when they suffered a 5-2 defeat on home soil in the EFL Trophy.

The last time that these two clubs locked horns in the FA Cup was in November 2004, a game which Hartlepool also won, securing a 3-0 victory in the first round at Victoria Park.

Lincoln have failed to progress to the third round of the FA Cup in each of the last two seasons, so will be keen to end this run with a victory on Saturday and join Premier League clubs in the hat for Monday's third-round draw.

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Following the departure of head coach Dave Challinor to Stockport County last month, Hartlepool United have appointed former player Graeme Lee as their new manager, with Michael Nelson joining as his assistant coach.

Lee's appointment has brought an end to Antony Sweeney's interim spell in charge, but he was able to go out with a bang as the Monkey Hangers claimed a surprise victory in the second round of the EFL Trophy, beating League One outfit Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Hillsborough on Wednesday night.

Mark Shelton's 11th-minute opener was followed by a Jaden Brown own goal just three minutes later to put the visitors two goals to the good, before Will Goodwin sealed an impressive win with a strike just before the hour mark.

That victory ended a run of three successive defeats for Hartlepool, who can now head into Saturday's FA Cup tie with confidence that they can cause another upset against third-tier opposition.

After drawing 2-2 against Wycombe Wanderers in the first round, Hartlepool managed to claim a slender 1-0 win in the replay at Adams Park to progress and will now be looking to reach the third round for the second time in three years.

Team News

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Lincoln quartet Anthony Scully, Liam Bridcutt, Tom Hopper and Joe Walsh are all doubtful with injuries and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Midfielder Teddy Bishop and left-back Jamie Robson, who both started on the bench against Carlisle, could be recalled to the first XI at the expense of Max Sanders and Cohen Bramall respectively.

Southampton loanee Dan N'Lundulu will likely lead the line as the central striker and could be supported in attack by Lewis Fiorini and Chris Maguire.

As for Hartlepool, forward Tyler Burey has been ruled out since September with a hamstring injury and is set to remain unavailable for selection this weekend, but the 20-year-old is closing in on a return to first-team action.

Strikers Luke Molyneux and Mark Cullen, who have both failed to score in each of their last five matches, are expected to lead the line up front in Burey's absence.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Poole, Montsma, Jackson, Robson; McGrandles, Bishop, Sorensen; Fiorini, N'Lundulu, Maguire

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:
Killip; Sterry, Byrne, Liddle, Francis-Angol, Ferguson; Featherstone, Daly, Shelton; Molyneux, Cullen

We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Hartlepool United

Although Lincoln have been out of form in recent weeks, they will be confident of beating League Two opposition in front of their own fans.

However, we can see Hartlepool claiming at least a draw on Saturday, which would be enough to force a replay and keep both teams in the hat for Monday's third-round draw.

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