The Shrimps are back at the Mazuma Stadium for the final time this season as we take on Lincoln City on Saturday 29 April in Sky Bet League One.
Derek Adams' men will look to go four games unbeaten after a 0-0 draw against Portsmouth and wins over Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic respectively in the last three games.
Last time out, Lincoln were beaten 1-0 at home by Burton Albion.
The Opposition
The Imps currently sit 10th in League One after 44 games having picked up 13 wins, 20 draws and 11 defeats so far this season.
City have had a lot of success since they were promoted back to the EFL in 2017. They won the Papa Johns Trophy in 2018, beating Shrewsbury Town 1-0 in the final, and were promoted to League One as League Two champions in 2019. They were then League One Play-Off Finalists in 2021, but were denied promotion to the Championship when they were beaten 2-1 by Blackpool in the crunch match at Wembley.
Mark Kennedy, who played as a left back and a winger for Millwall, Liverpool, Manchester City, Wolves and Ipswich Town over a 20-year career, is currently in charge at the LNER Stadium. Kennedy’s first managerial role was at Macclesfield Town in 2020. After leaving, the 46-year-old spent time coaching in Ipswich Town's Academy as well as a spell at Birmingham City as assistant manager. He was then handed a four-year contract by Lincoln in the summer.
Key Players
Attacking midfielder Danny Mandroiu has impressed for the Imps this season with six goals and four assists so far. The 24-year-old Irishman began his career in Ireland, spending time with Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers before joining Lincoln in 2022.
Striker Ben House has 13 goals and one assist for Lincoln so far this season. House earned himself a move to Lincoln after an impressive spell with Eastleigh in the National League. After netting five goals in five games, the 23-year-old was awarded National League Player of the Month in October 2020 before joining the Lincolnshire side for an undisclosed fee in January 2022.
Midfielder Matty Virtue is currently on loan at Lincoln from Championship side Blackpool. Virtue began his career at Liverpool and captained their U23 side in October 2018 before joining Blackpool three months later. After scoring seven goals in 59 appearances for the Seasiders, the 25-year-old signed on loan for Lincoln at the start of September and has scored two goals and picked up one assist so far this season.
Mark Kennedy’s Thoughts
Speaking on the Lincoln City YouTube channel, Imps boss Mark Kennedy is expecting both teams to give everything for three points on Saturday.
“I think there will be two teams going out to win a game of football, instead of one team hoping to get away with a point,” he said.
Team News
Derek Adams will assess the fitness of Pape Souare ahead of the game and still has an extensive injury list ahead of the weekend's clash.
Meet The Officials
Sam Allison will referee Saturday’s game and will be assisted by Steve Durnall, Richard Wigglesworth and fourth official Anthony Moore.
Allison has refereed 35 games this season; 12 in each of League One and League Two, four in the Papa Johns Trophy, two in the Championship and FA Cup respectively and one in each of the Carabao Cup, FA Youth Cup and Premier League 2.
Allison, a former firefighter, was last in the middle for a Morecambe game in March 2021 when the Shrimps overcame Carlisle United by three goals to one in League Two.
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