Lincoln City face Southampton this weekend in a Championship fixture that marks their first league meeting in over six decades. The Imps, currently 17th in the table with four points from four games, will look to secure a maiden home victory this campaign when they entertain the Saints at LNER Stadium on Saturday at 12:30 BST.
BBC Sport highlighted this match as the 'Pick of the stats' in their preview. Lincoln's home form shows a loss and a draw so far, while Southampton arrive having taken just one point from their travels this season. The visitors sit 18th, one place below their hosts, setting up a closely contested encounter.
What is the historical record between the clubs?
This will be the first league meeting between Lincoln City and Southampton since March 1961. On that occasion, Southampton claimed a 3-0 victory in the old Second Division. Across all competitions, the Saints have lost just one of their last 16 encounters with Lincoln, recording ten wins and five draws. That solitary defeat came in December 1960, a 3-2 reverse. The long gap between fixtures adds an extra layer of intrigue to Saturday's match.
How have both teams performed defensively?
Lincoln City's defensive solidity has been a standout feature in 2026. No side in England's top four tiers has kept more clean sheets than the Imps' 13 this calendar year. They head into this match having kept shutouts in their last two Championship outings. This contrasts with their overall season record of three goals scored and five conceded, giving them a minus two goal difference. You can track the team's defensive metrics on our stats page.
Southampton present a different challenge entirely. They have both scored and conceded in each of their last eight league games, a run that stretches back to last season. The last time they had a longer such sequence was in November 2009, when they went ten games in a row in League One. This season, they have netted 19 times but let in 11 goals across those eight matches.
Who are the key attacking threats?
Southampton's main danger comes from striker Cyle Larin. No player has scored more Championship goals this season than his four. The Canadian forward has been in prolific form, finding the net seven times in his last seven league appearances for the club. Stopping Larin will be a primary objective for Lincoln's resolute defence.
For Lincoln, turning defensive resilience into attacking potency at home remains the task. Their league position of 17th sees them six points behind early leaders Swansea City, highlighting the competitive nature of the division. The full standings show how tight the early table is.
What comes next for Lincoln City?
The immediate focus is entirely on this historic fixture against Southampton. A positive result could provide a platform as Lincoln look to climb the Championship table. Their recent form reads draw, win, loss, loss from their opening four matches. Following this game, the squad will prepare for the next challenge in the schedule, which you can view on our fixtures page. The next fixture is at home against Southampton on September 5, 2026.
