Next Up: Lincoln City vs Exeter City

City extended their unbeaten run to five matches since the much-criticised Spain trip with a 1-1 draw at Rotherham, and it’s therefore in buoyant mood that Gary Caldwell’s side embarks on a second successive long away trip this weekend. Competition for places remains keen, although Caldwell knows he will definitely be without Joel Colwill on Saturday, the Cardiff loanee having been called up to the Wales U21s along with defender Ed James. Josh Magennis is likely to be available having only been named as a standby for Northern Ireland. Colwill started at Rotherham so his place is likely to go to Caleb Watts, Jack Aitchison or Ryan Woods. Elsewhere the defensive combination of MacDonald, Hartridge and Turns was finally breached but they are nailed on to continue at the back, while Ben Purrington is likely to return having missed the Rotherham match through illness.

Having just missed out on the playoffs following a storming second half of the season, it has been something of second season blues for Michael Skubala at Lincoln, with the Imps currently sitting firmly in mid-table having expected to continue their momentum. Like City, Lincoln have found life tough against the better sides in the division, their last win against a top half side coming back in December while all five of their wins in 2025 so far have been against sides struggling near the bottom. They do, however, come into Saturday’s fixture on the back of a resounding 5-0 win over Bristol Rovers in their last fixture and it seems that if they win, they win big – their previous wins being 4-1, 3-0 and 5-1. Scoring isn’t an issue for Lincoln as evidenced by this, although their goals are very much shared around with top scorer Jovon Makama registering just seven in the league (11 in total) but they do have four other players with five league goals including veteran James Collins – signed in January from Derby, he has registered his five goals in just seven starts and four substitute appearances.

The Sky cameras were on hand for the reverse fixture in November although the viewing thousands weren’t treated to the best of matches in a 0-0 draw that was memorable only for Ryan Woods’ red card for about his 27th bookable offence and a flare up in the dugout leading to David Perkins also seeing red. Last season’s trip to Sincil Bank resulted in a 1-0 defeat due with in-form Joe Taylor scoring the only goal. City’s last win at Lincoln was a crucial one, a 1-0 win putting City in touching distance of a second successive promotion in 2009. Lincoln have the overall league head to head lead in this fixture, winning 28 times to City’s 20 with 19 matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Declan Bourne
Assistant Referees: Daniel Smith and Joseph Stokes
Fourth Official: Robert Massey-Ellis

Declan Bourne last took charge of an Exeter match, in March 2024 when City held Charlton 1-1. So far this season he’s taken charge of 21 games, showing 84 yellow cards and sending off two players.

Interview with Gary Caldwell

Interview with Sonny Cox