Lincoln City match thread

In memory of Derek Reynolds.

Lincoln City
Frustratingly for them finished seventh last season, having gone on a sixteen-game unbeaten run between the second week of January and the beginning of April but lost their last two crucial home games to miss out on the playoffs. This season they have carried on in the same vein and currently sit fourth in the table, unbeaten in the last six. They were last in the Championship, then Division 2, in 1960-61!

Since October 2023 managed by Michael Skubala who had been director of football at Loughborough University and manager of the England futsal team between 2017 and 2020. He became assistant manager of England U18s and a strategic advisor to UEFA (no, I don’t know what that means). He went to Leeds United in 2022 where he was their U21 manager, interim manager and first team coach before the opportunity at Lincoln arrived.

They had a busy transfer window with thirteen in and ten out. The biggest departures were commanding goalkeeper Lukas Jensen to Millwall and creative midfielder Lasse Sorensen to Huddersfield for €470k. They have brought in 22-year-old striker Robert Street from Cheltenham (“electric” according to Skubala) for a reported €130k but they have not been feeding the meter, so he has barely played. Right wing back to right wing is a competition between the very experienced Tendaye Darikwe who was an integral part of Wigan’s League 1 winning team in 2021-22 and Tom Hamer who has been a regular starter for Burton over the last four years and can chip in with goals and assists. Darikwe has won the competition hands down and has been ever-present, although Hamer will probably feature because of Adam Jackson's suspension.

When I first wrote this preview, I thought it is difficult to see where the goals were coming from this year as last year’s top scorer, Joe Taylor, has gone back to Luton, Daniel Mandriou couldn’t agree a new contract and Lasse Sorensen has left. They have, however, potted thirteen so far, although they are running very hot, as their ExG has them as 8.6, just below Orient on 8.9. Top scorer Ben House (3) broke his nose against Cambridge and will miss the game.

Tom Bayliss is a good bet for many minutes in central midfield and has three assists so far. He is supported by J J McKiernan and, when fit, McGrandles who has returned after two unsuccessful years at Charlton.

They play 3-1-4-2, with three experienced centre backs: club captain Paudie O’Connor (currently rated 4th best player in League 1 by Fotmob – take this with a bucket of salt as there are no sensible statistics for measuring defensive contributions, let alone comparing them to other players – but somebody thinks he is playing well), Sean Roughan and Adam Jackson (suspended for this match, having been sent off against Blackpool). Ethan Erhahon sits in front as the defensive midfielder. George Wickens is the keeper and was outstanding against Blackpool. They are one of the best defensive units in League 1 at the moment.

Lincoln are owned by a very wealthy group of largely American and South African investors, with the Americans seeming to have the largest stake. There is also a small, around 8%, fans’ shareholding. The strategic advisor is the ex-USA international Landon Donovan.

Orient will be without Tom James, as well as Dan Happe, which creates a selection problem. If Sean Clare is fit enough to start in midfield, which seems the preference, the choice at right-back is either Jordan Brown or Ethan Galbraith. If Clare plays right-back, I guess it is Dom Ball and his plus one, probably Brown.

In: Robert Street CF (Cheltenham, £130k), Tendai Darikwa RB (Apol Limassol, free), Tom Bayliss CM (Shrewsbury, free), J J KcKiernan CM (Morecambe, free), Dom Jefferies RM (Gillingham, free), Jamie Pardington GK (Cheltenham, free), Zach Jeacock GK (Birmingham, free), Tom Hamer RB (Burton, undisclosed), Conor McGrandles CM (Charlton, undisclosed), George Wickes GK (Fuham U21, undisclosed), Alister Smith CM (AFC Wimbledon, loan),

Out: Lasse Sorensen RM (Huddersfield, £470k), Teddy Bishop CM (Colchester free), Sam Long GK (Bromley, free), Hayden Cann CB (Dundalk, free), Elicha Ahui RB (Drogheda, free), Luka Jensen GK (Millwall, undisclosed), Jaden Brown LB (St Mirren, undisclosed), Jordan Wright GK (Grimsby, undisclosed), Alistair Smith CM (AFC Wimbledon, loan), Daniel Mändroiu AM (released), Timothy Eyoma (released), Hakeeb Adelakun RW (released), Zak Bradshaw CB (Tranmere, loan), Oisin Gallagher CM (Peterborough Sports, loan), M J Kamara CB (Peterborough Sports, loan)
Last season’s results:
Leyton Orient 0 Lincoln City 1 (21 November 2023)
Lincoln City 1 Leyton Orient 0 (29 March 2024)