League One Preview: Lincoln City vs Burton Albion - Promotion Ambitions Meet Relegation Scrap
Lincoln City will host Burton Albion at LNER Stadium in a pivotal League One clash with significant implications at both ends of the table. Lincoln City are enjoying a strong run, pushing for promotion, while Burton Albion are battling to avoid relegation in the lower half of the standings. This encounter is crucial for both sides, promising a tense and hard-fought contest.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This Thursday, English Football League One will feature a crucial match as Lincoln City host Burton Albion at the LNER Stadium. This fixture holds significant importance for both teams' 2025-26 season objectives. EFL League One is the third tier of the English football league system, where the top two teams at the end of the season earn automatic promotion to the Championship, while teams finishing from third to sixth compete in playoffs for one additional promotion spot. Conversely, the bottom four teams are relegated to League Two. Under coach Michael Skubala, Lincoln City are currently enjoying a strong league campaign, sitting second in the table and firmly in contention for a promotion spot. Burton Albion, however, find themselves in a relegation battle, currently occupying 19th position and desperately needing points to create distance from the drop zone.
Recent Form
Lincoln City are in excellent form, currently enjoying a nine-match unbeaten run in the league. In their last five League One fixtures, they have secured three wins and two draws. These results include a 2-2 draw away to Luton Town on January 17th, a commanding 5-2 home victory over Peterborough United on January 4th, a 1-1 home draw against Huddersfield Town on January 1st, a 2-0 away win against Barnsley on December 29th, 2025, and a 2-1 away triumph over Stockport County on December 26th, 2025. This consistent performance has cemented their position at the top end of the table. In contrast, Burton Albion's form in their last five League One matches has been inconsistent, with two wins and three losses. They recently secured a much-needed 3-1 home victory against Huddersfield Town, but prior to that, they suffered 0-2 defeats to Reading and Wigan Athletic. Earlier matches included a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon and a 0-1 home loss to Peterborough United.
Key Players & Injury News
Lincoln City are grappling with significant injury concerns, with several key players expected to miss the match. Defender Josh Honohan is not expected back yet, and striker James Collins is a long-term absentee after suffering a season-ending knee injury in December. Additionally, Ben House, Tom Bayliss, Adam Jackson, and Oscar Thorn are all on the recovery trail but are likely to be unavailable for the Burton game. Despite these setbacks, the team can rely on captain Tendayi Darikwa, defensive stalwarts Tom Hamer and Sonny Bradley, and leading goal scorer Reeco Hackett. For Burton Albion, a number of players are also sidelined with injuries, including Finn Delap, James Jones, Kain Adom, Alex Hartridge, Udoka Godwin-Malife, Seb Revan, and Charlie Webster. However, they will look to striker Jake Beesley, who recently scored his eighth league goal, midfielder Charlie Webster, who has contributed 4 goals and 3 assists while creating 21 chances, and chance-creator Kyran Lofthouse (4 assists, 25 chances created). Goalkeeper Bradley Collins, with an average of 3.1 saves per match, will also be crucial.