Lincoln City have started their Championship campaign with consecutive defeats, marking a challenging return to the second tier after a 65-year absence. The Imps fell 3-1 at home to Portsmouth on Saturday, a result that followed an opening day loss to Middlesbrough and ended a remarkable ten-month unbeaten league run at Sincil Bank.
Joint head coach Tom Shaw acknowledged the step up in quality. "If you get it wrong, you get hurt," Shaw told the BBC. "That's our early reflections on the three games against teams at this level." Shaw and his co-manager Chris Cohen took charge during the summer, tasked with building on last season's League One title triumph where Lincoln amassed 103 points and finished on a 29-game unbeaten streak.
What happened against Portsmouth?
Portsmouth seized control early, racing into a 2-0 lead within the first sixteen minutes. Lincoln City pulled a goal back through Reeco Hackett's penalty, offering brief hope to the home supporters. Any chance of a comeback was extinished in the second half when Portsmouth substitute Ebou Adams fired in a spectacular third goal from 25 yards out. The defeat was Lincoln's first league loss at Sincil Bank in over ten months, a stark contrast to their dominant form last season.
How does this compare to last season?
The contrast with the previous campaign could not be more pronounced. Lincoln City's 2025/26 season was defined by relentless consistency, culminating in the League One title with a massive points haul. They carried that form into the final months, finishing the season without a league defeat for 29 consecutive matches. Starting the new Championship season with zero points from two games represents a significant reality check. Shaw himself framed the new challenge. "It's a different challenge this year," he said. "Success will look different to what it did last season."
What comes next for Lincoln City?
Attention now turns to a busy week of cup and league action. Lincoln City face League One side Blackpool in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, a competition where they have already progressed past fellow Championship club Derby County. Their next league fixture is a tough away trip to face Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Following that, the Imps return to Sincil Bank to host Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, a game fans can find on the club's fixtures page. Navigating this packed schedule will test the squad's depth and resilience early in the season.
The immediate focus for Shaw and Cohen will be on halting the losing streak and finding a formula that works in the Championship. The team's upcoming performances, including the cup tie and the vital league match at Bolton, will provide clearer indicators of their adaptation to the higher level. Supporters can track the team's progress and league position on our dedicated standings section.
