Wanderers go to Sincil Bank on Monday afternoon seeking to stop the rot and restore some momentum to their flagging campaign.
The Whites’ play-off hopes are not yet over but their home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on Good Friday has left them three points off the top six with just three games to go.
Eighth-placed Wanderers also have a far inferior goal difference to Leyton Orient who grabbed the initiative in the play-off race by kicking off the Easter weekend with a home win over Barnsley to move above Reading into sixth spot.
Orient go to Cambridge United this afternoon, while Reading head to Mansfield Town on the back of a home defeat to Lincoln on Friday.
Mid-table Lincoln are in decent form but can’t reach the play-offs and will be looking to avoid a third defeat of the season to the Whites following a 3-0 loss at the Toughsheet Community Stadium at the end of December and a home exit in the Vertu Trophy just over fortnight later.
Press Conferences
Steven Schumacher: “I'm not looking at the table and saying: ‘come on, we're still in with chance’, because we've lost six out of eight now. That’s not promotion-winning form. We've just got to find a way to not get beat. Even if you don't play well, get a draw. I'm not really bothered about the table right now. I just want to see us perform and have a go.
“It's hard at the moment. There’s loads of players that we can't call on, good players as well that we're missing, but we've got to respond because we're going to a team that has won again who are playing really well at the minute, so it's going to be another tough afternoon.”
Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala: “When we knew we couldn't go up or down it was really important for me to learn more about the team. But, fundamentally, we still want to win, as we showed against Reading on Good Friday.
“Bolton will come here knowing they have to win, so it is another tough challenge for us but one we'll embrace. The game against Reading was physically tough for the players, so we may have to rotate the side again, but with a view to winning the match.
“We want to win games at home. It's another big club coming to the LNER Stadium and we're determined to put on another good performance in front of our own supporters.”
Team News
The number of absentees for Wanderers is close to double figures after Jordi Osei-Tutu suffered a hamstring injury early in the Whites’ 2-0 defeat to Wycombe.
Joel Randall missed that game after picking up a knock in training and boss Steven Schumacher doesn’t expect anyone to make it out of the treatment room for the trip to the LNER Stadium.
Youth team striker David Abimbola made a senior debut off the bench on Friday and looks set to be involved again, possibly alongside some more of the Whites’ young players.
Lincoln could be without midfielder Tom Bayliss after he picked up a knock in Friday’s win at Reading and had to be substituted. Fellow midfielder Jack Moylan and on-loan forward Bailey Cadamarteri are also still expected to remain on the sidelines.
Form Guide
Wanderers have lost their last three games and six of their last eight matches to slip off the League One play-off pace. Their last away win was the derby success at the start of April.
However, the Whites’ record against Lincoln is good, having not lost to the Red Imps since January 2020. Seven of the last eight meetings between the sides have gone Wanderers’ way.
Lincoln are looking to finish the season strongly after just two defeats in their last nine games.
Michael Skubala’s side is unbeaten in their last five home games to sit 11th in the table, 11 points off the play-offs and 15 points clear of the relegation places.
Kick-off
Monday 3pm
Referee
Jacob Miles takes charge of a first Wanderers’ game since their 2-1 loss to Charlton in January when he showed eight yellow cards.
Tickets/Wanderers TV
Tickets are still available to buy on the day with details HERE
For those without a ticket, audio passes will be available, as always, for UK-based supporters to listen to full commentary with Derek Clark and John McGinlay via Wanderers TV. Those based internationally can stream the game through a live video match pass on Wanderers TV.
Click HERE to purchase a pass.