Lincoln City travel to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night to face Bristol City in the Championship, aiming to build on their first away win of the season. The Imps sit 16th in the table with eight points from six games, a position they secured with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Preston North End last Saturday.
Freddie Draper scored the decisive goal in the 81st minute at Deepdale, finishing from close range after a knockdown from defender Andrei Coubiș. That result ended a run of two matches without a win, which included a heavy 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth. Manager Michael Skubala is expected to name a similar side, with the 3-4-2-1 formation that proved successful against Preston likely to be retained.
Team news and absences
Lincoln will be without three players for the trip to the West Country. Young forward Mason Melia remains sidelined, as do defenders Tendayi Darikwa and Tom Hamer. Their absence means the back three of Daniel Oyegoke, Andrei Coubiș and Sean Bradley is set to continue in front of goalkeeper Gavin Wickens.
Bristol City, managed by Liam Manning, are coming off a 4-1 loss at Southampton. Their form has been mixed, with three away wins in their last five games but defensive vulnerabilities on show last time out. Their last starting lineup featured Sam Tickle in goal and attackers Sam Twine and Lamine Tolaj leading the line.
The challenge ahead
This match represents a significant test for Lincoln's defensive resilience. Bristol City have scored in each of their last five Championship outings. The Imps' recent form reads two wins, two draws and one defeat from their last five, a sequence they will be keen to extend positively. A positive result could see them climb into the top half of the Championship standings. The full schedule for the coming weeks is available on the club's fixtures page, while the latest injury updates can be tracked via the injuries list. The squad travels to Bristol on Monday ahead of the 19:45 BST kick-off on Tuesday, 15 September.
Lincoln City secured a third consecutive 1-0 away win with a victory at Bristol City on September 15. Freddie Draper scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute, assisted by Ben House. Head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw made five changes to the starting line-up, including a first league start for Chieo Ogbene. The result extends the Imps' unbeaten run to five matches. The club's live data shows Lincoln now have 11 points from seven games, moving them up to 16th in the Championship.
