Lincoln City face a tough Championship test away at Bolton Wanderers this Saturday afternoon. The match kicks off at 3pm at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in BL6, with the Imps looking to secure their first league points of the campaign.

How have Lincoln City started the season?

Lincoln City's return to the second tier has begun with difficulty. They currently sit 22nd in the Championship with 0 points, having lost both of their opening fixtures against Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. Their form reads LL, with two goals scored and five conceded for a -3 goal difference. That leaves them six points behind early leaders Millwall. A midweek Carabao Cup victory at Blackpool, a 4-1 win, provided a welcome boost. The club was promoted as Sky Bet League One champions last season under the guidance of joint-head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.

What is the recent history with Bolton?

The two sides are familiar opponents from last season's League One. Both meetings in the 2025/26 campaign ended in 1-1 draws. The most recent clash was at Sincil Bank in February, where Sam Dalby scored a late equalizer for Lincoln City to salvage a point. Bolton Wanderers, managed by Steven Schumacher, are unbeaten in the league so far this season. They drew 0-0 away at Queens Park Rangers last weekend and sit 8th in the table ahead of this fixture. You can view the full Championship standings on our site.

What are the team news and match details?

Bolton will be without several key players. Ruben Rodrigues is sidelined with a knee injury, while Luca Stephenson has a thigh problem. Xavier Simons is unavailable due to suspension. For Lincoln City, the joint-head coaches will be looking to build on the cup performance. The referee for the match is Ben Speedie. Tickets for the game remain available for purchase. International supporters can stream the match live via Wanderers TV, which also offers audio passes for full-match commentary from Derek Clark and John McGinlay.

Steven Schumacher acknowledged Lincoln's quality, saying: "They were the best team in the league last year and in my opinion deservedly won it and people found it really hard to beat them." Chris Cohen responded by praising his opposite number's methods. "Steven always sets up his teams really well," Cohen said. "We know the game that we’re going to face and we know the challenge that it’s going to be."

What comes next for Lincoln City?

This match is a significant opportunity for Lincoln City to kickstart their Championship season. A positive result at a tough venue would provide vital momentum. The fixture list shows their next match is also against Bolton, an away game scheduled for 2026-08-29. After that, the focus will shift to climbing the table from their current lowly position. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on our fixtures page. The coaching staff will also be monitoring player availability on our injuries section as they plan for the weeks ahead.