Preview: Lincoln City vs Notts County - prediction, team news, lineups

In each side's first group game of the EFL Trophy this season, Lincoln City will host Notts County at Sincil Bank on Tuesday.

The sides are in League One and League Two respectively, and the home team come into the game after drawing 1-1 with Mansfield Town on Saturday, while the visitors beat Tranmere Rovers 2-1 on the same day.

Match preview

Lincoln City proved resilient against Mansfield given they played with 10 men for an hour, with Sonny Bradley dismissed when they were winning 1-0, and they only conceded the equaliser nine minutes from time.

The stalemate was the Imps' sixth league match, and they are currently ninth with 11 points having netted the joint fewest goals of any team in the top 13 (eight).

At the other end of the pitch, Michael Skubala's side have kept two clean sheets in their four most recent fixtures in all competitions while only conceding once in their other two games.

The hosts finished second in their group in the EFL Trophy last term, and they were defeated in the round of 16 by Bolton Wanderers, losing 1-0 on January 14.

Lincoln City are unbeaten in six games - winning four - and they have won two and drawn one of their three away games this season.

Notts County trailed 1-0 at half time against Tranmere Rovers, but a strong second-half performance - they created three big chances and limited Tranmere to one shot on target - helped them overturn their deficit to claim three points.

Boss Martin Paterson's team are 13th in League Two with eight points from six outings, and while their return of 11 goals makes them the division's joint best offensive club, their record of nine conceded makes them the joint worst defensive side in the top 21.

The visitors have not experienced a victory against Lincoln City in six matches, with the away side suffering four losses in that time.

Notts County failed to make it out of their group in the 2024-25 edition of the EFL Trophy despite collecting six points from three matches.

The Magpies head to Sincil Bank on the back of two victories and a stalemate in their past three, but they lost three and drew one of their prior four games this term.

Lincoln City form (all competitions):

Notts County form (all competitions):

Team News

The hosts could name a similar starting lineup to the side they fielded against Burton Albion in the EFL Cup on August 26, with goalkeeper Zachary Jeacock a candidate to be protected by centre-backs Thomas Hamer and Adam Jackson.

Lincoln City midfielders Tom Bayliss and Ivan Varfolomeev could be chosen to start together in a double pivot.

In the frontline, number nine Robert Street may be supported by wide attackers Zane Okoro and Erik Ring.

As for the visitors, perhaps they will field a back three consisting of Sonny Aljofree, Rod McDonald and Jacob Bedeau.

Perhaps Notts County could utilise a midfield two of Tom Iorpenda and Matt Palmer behind forwards Jodi Jones, Conor Grant and Mai Traore.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Jeacock; Darikwa, Hamer, Jackson, Towler; Bayliss, Varfolomieiev; Okoro, Okoronkwo, Ring; Street

Notts County possible starting lineup:

Roos; Aljofree, McDonald, Bedeau; Cotter, Iorpenda, Palmer, Bennetts; Jones, Grant; Traore

We say: Lincoln City 2-1 Notts County

Lincoln should be seen as favourites considering they boast an excellent record against Notts County, as well as the fact they rank a division higher.

The visitors are likely to be difficult opponents given they head to Sincil Bank in strong form, but their vulnerable defence could ultimately cost them the chance of victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.