PREVIEW: Argyle vs Lincoln City
Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims take on Sky Bet League One promotion hopefuls Lincoln City at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Greens suffered their first defeat in the league in ten outings against table-topping Peterborough United in midweek, bringing to an end an unbeaten run that stretched back to the turn of 2021.
After a highly competitive first half in midweek, Darren Ferguson’s Posh outfit proved too strong in the second half, securing a win that elevated them above Saturday’s opponents in the League One table, courtesy of strikes from Sammie Szmodics, Jonson Clarke-Harris, and a thunderous 25-yard effort from Jack Taylor.
This weekend’s visitors, Michael Appleton’s Imps, are unbeaten in their last five league appearances, but have drawn three of those fixtures.
On Tuesday, Lincoln came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 home draw with struggling Swindon Town. Jordan Garrick and Brett Pitman had the Robins in front at the interval, striking either side of Jorge Grant’s 26th minute spot-kick. Manchester City loanee Morgan Rogers' equaliser just before the hour mark salvaged a draw.
Grant, who joined Lincoln back in 2019 from Nottingham Forest, is the Imps’ top goalscorer so far this campaign. The 26-year-old has netted 12 times this season.
The visitors’ last away trip saw them defeat Wigan Athletic 2-1 at the DW Stadium. The Latics took a surprise lead on 33 minutes, however, the Imps immediately equalised just one minute later, through Anthony Scully, before Tom Hopper’s 73rd-minute effort grabbed the win.
The two sides have already met twice during the 20/21 campaign, with a win apiece. In the reverse league fixture, the Imps overcame Argyle 2-0 at the LNER Stadium, courtesy of second-half strikes from Jorge Grant (pen) and Brennan Johnson.
Having been drawn against each other in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, the Pilgrims avenged their defeat with a 2-0 win at Home Park.
Luke Jephcott got the Greens off to the perfect start on six minutes, heading home a corner, before Ben Reeves’ sweetly struck volley doubled our advantage on 55 minutes.
Max Sanders is a reported doubt for our meeting with the Imps, due to a tight hamstring, although he did feature on the bench against Swindon in midweek. Remy Howarth was absent in their last outing with a groin issue, along with Harry Anderson.
Liam Bridcutt and Joe Walsh are both doubtful due tocalf injuries, while forward Callum Morton has been a long-term absentee, not appearing in the squad since September, due to a serious shoulder injury.
For the Pilgrims, long-term absentee George Cooper is recuperating from knee surgery, as club captain Gary Sawyer and midfielder Lewis Macleod are both in training and working towards their return.
ARGYLE AT HOME TO LINCOLN CITY IN THE EFL
The record: P 20 W 8 D 5 L 7 F 23 A 23
The first time: Division Two. 3 December, 1932. Argyle 0 Lincoln City 3
Bob Jack’s charges stretched their Division Two winless run to six matches by losing 0-3 at home to City. The Imps completed the double over Argyle later in the season, but still finished four places below us in the final league table.
The last time: Nationwide Division Three, 23 October, 2001. Argyle 2 Lincoln City 0
Paul Sturrock’s Third Division championship-winning side beat Lincoln en route to a record-breaking title. Our goals came from two Home Park legends: David Friio and Graham Coughlan.
Biggest win: We have twice beaten the Imps 3-0. The first time was on 3 March, 1934 in Division Two when Bob Jack’s team beat City for the first time in the Football League. Frank Sloan, Tommy Grozier and Jimmy Cookson were our scorers.
The second time was in the Endsleigh Third Division on 30 September, 1995, when Neil Warnock’s Pilgrims were grateful to Lincoln’s Jason Minnet for putting through his own net, as well as Mickey Evans and Adrian Littlejohn for the goals.
Most goals in a single game: Five, in a 4-1 win for City on 21 January, 1956 in Division Two. George Robertson scored for Jack Rowley’s team in Lincoln’s biggest ever win over us.
The match kicks-off at 3pm on Saturday, and is available to stream live and worldwide on iFollow Argyle. Click here to buy your pass.