Preview:Lincoln City vs Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Lincoln City play host to Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon with both teams looking to establish themselves in the top half of the League One table.

Although the home side sit in ninth and the visitors in 13th, victory for Wigan at Sincil Bank would take them level on points with their hosts.

Match preview

Since suffering defeat to AFC Wimbledon on the second weekend of the campaign, Lincoln fans have been treated to a prolonged unbeaten run under Michael Skubala.

As well as putting together a four-match unbeaten streak in League One, progress to the EFL Cup third round has been secured, while a 3-0 triumph was also posted against Notts County in the EFL Trophy in midweek.

During that seven-game period, a total of 13 goals have been scored, with three clean sheets being posted in the most recent five fixtures in all competitions.

Lincoln still only sit in ninth place, yet there is just a five-point gap to leaders Cardiff City who are currently looking in a class of their own.

Skubala will be hoping that a consistent goalscorer emerges in the third tier with only two players - Freddie Draper and James Collins - having netted more than once with two strikes.

Meanwhile, Wigan find themselves in somewhat of a rut having collected just four points from their last five contests in League One.

One of their two defeats in question came by a 1-0 scoreline at Luton Town, and they have since recorded a 2-2 draw away at Rotherham United and 1-1 stalemate with Stockport County.

Nevertheless, despite taking that into account, Ryan Lowe knows that momentum has been lost since they started the campaign with three victories from four outings in all competitions.

Wigan also suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to League Two outfit Salford City in the EFL Trophy in midweek, emphasising that they need a turnaround in fortunes to keep themselves in the mid-table spots as a bare minimum.

Lincoln City League One form:

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Lincoln City form (all competitions):

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Wigan Athletic League One form:

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Wigan Athletic form (all competitions):

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Team News

Lincoln will be forced into at least two alterations with Sonny Bradley serving a suspension for his red card against Mansfield.

Adam Jackson is in line to deputise for him in the centre of defence, while Oscar Thorn may earn a start with Reeco Hackett on international duty.

New signings Dexter Lembikisa and Justin Obikwu also miss out for the same reasons.

Although Ollie Cooper has arrived from Swansea City, he will not feature for Wigan due to being selected by Wales. James Carragher is also with Malta.

New goalkeeper Toby Savin may only be named on the substitutes' bench, but Raphael Borges Rodrigues is a new option in the final third having signed from Coventry City.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Darikwa, Hamer, Jackson, Towler; McGrandles, Bayliss; Street, Draper, Thorn; Collins

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Tickle; Aimson, Kerr, Fox; Francois; Murray, Trevitt, Wright, Hungbo; Costelloe, Saydee

We say: Lincoln City 1-1 Wigan Athletic

Although the visitors are without a win in three games, they have shown enough this season to suggest that they could be outside challengers for the playoffs. With that in mind, we are backing a low-scoring draw to play out at Sincil Bank.

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