Preview: Lincoln City vs Birmingham City - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to take another huge scalp in front of their home faithful, Lincoln City welcome Birmingham City to ProAmpac Stadium for a Championship match on Saturday afternoon.

The Imps put the final nail in Nicky Hayen's Burnley coffin last weekend, whilst Blues suffered a memory-evoking loss at Cardiff City in South Wales.

Match preview

Tipped by the majority of supporters and pundits alike for an immediate return to League One, Lincoln City have paid no attention to the pre-season script, posting a positive start to the 2026-27 campaign.

The Imps have coped admirably following the summer departures of former head coach Michael Skubala and star player Jack Moylan, with Saturday's hosts enjoying a handsome home success last weekend.

A brilliant brace from 2026 arrival Mikkel Ladefoged headlined a 4-1 battering of Burnley last time out, with the struggling Clarets parting ways with Belgian head coach Hayen in the immediate aftermath of the loss.

There is no chance of Lincoln repeating that trick with Birmingham's Chris Davies on Saturday. however, there is motivation from the hosts to record back-to-back second-tier wins for only the second time in 65 years.

Rather surprisingly, the Imps have fared much better on their travels so far in 2026-27, winning just one of their opening six Championship matches (D2 L3) at Sincil Bank, conceding 13 goals along the way.

© Iconsport / PA Images

 Following three consecutive wins and clean sheets since returning from the September/October international break, Birmingham were brought back down to Earth by a 1-0 loss at Cardiff last Saturday.

In many ways, it was a throwback to Blues' awful away trips of 2025-26 - Davies's side failed to register a shot in the opening 45 minutes and should have conceded more than just Yousef Salech's winner.

As a result, there will be a major incentive to put that South Wales disappointment by them this weekend, when Birmingham make the trip to Lincoln for the first time since a 3-1 League One victory in October 2024.

Starting that win at Sincil Bank two years ago, Blues captain Christoph Klarer has been a cornerstone of the club's on-field transformation, with the Austrian working excellently alongside Phil Neumann this term.

Conceding just 12 goals in 12 Championship contests so far, Birmingham possess the joint-best defensive record in the division and will be confident of keeping their newly-promoted hosts at bay this weekend.

Lincoln City Championship form:

Birmingham City Championship form:

Team News

© Imago / Sports Press Photo

A promotion-winner from this level with Luton Town in 2023, Lincoln's Sonny Bradley is currently nursing a muscular injury.

Further reducing the options of the Imps in defence, right-back Tendayi Darikwa has been sidelined since September due to a knee issue.

Birmingham's injury list is relatively short, with Paik Seung-ho one of only two missing players from their 25-man squad.

The other is first-choice striker August Priske, with head coach Davies unsure whether the Dane will be fit for the trip to Sincil Bank.

There is a case for changes to the XI following defeat by Cardiff, with Patrick Roberts pushing to replace Carlos Vicente on the right flank.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Coubis, Elerewe, Towler, Reach; Konak, McGrandles; Hackett, House, Jefferies; Ladefoged

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Beadle; Osayi-Samuel, Neumann, Klarer, Cochrane; Iwata, Solis; Roberts, Bird, Millar; Stansfield

We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Birmingham City

Confidence will be coursing through the veins of Lincoln after their victory over Burnley last weekend.

That being said, Birmingham pose a much sterner test and should be good enough for a point on Saturday afternoon.

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