Preview: Lincoln City vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

As Lincoln City look to breathe some life into their mixed season, they are set to face League One's leakiest defence on Saturday when Peterborough United travel to the LNER Stadium.

The Imps come into the clash hoping to have turned a corner after their win last time out, while the Posh are on a three-game unbeaten streak.

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Match preview

Michael Skubala's Lincoln beat struggling Northampton Town 1-0 last week, and ended a run of six games without a win across all competitions that included five losses and just one draw.

Right wing-back Tendayi Darikwa netted the only goal of the match shortly before the half-time interval, though the Cobblers' Timothy Eyoma came close to levelling the score late on.

The Imps took all three points but will no doubt be concerned that they barely managed a victory over one of the league's bluntest offensive sides, and given that they are up against one of the third tier's highest scoring clubs this weekend, fans have every right to be nervous.

To make matters worse, Saturday's hosts have only won one of their last five home league games, drawing two and losing the remainder, and if they harbour ambitions of reaching the playoff spots, they will need to pick up maximum points against the division's lower sides at the very least.

Skubala's team are now 12th in League One, six points behind promotion-chasing Reading and Stockport County having earned 35 points from their 26 games so far, and securing consecutive league wins for the first time since October would help to build confidence.

Meanwhile, Darren Ferguson's Peterborough are 19th in the table, but have six points between themselves and 21st-placed Crawley Town.

The Posh are certainly the league's entertainers this season, and their figure of 42 goals scored is the most of any team outside of the top two, though they have also conceded 47, giving them the worst defensive record in League One.

That being said, this weekend's visitors have bolstered their backline with two loanee signings, Tayo Edun and Sam Hughes, both of whom helped to secure Peterborough's first clean sheet of the season when they drew 0-0 with Leyton Orient on January 18.

Last time out, Ferguson's side drew 1-1 with Exeter City, and were unlucky to only take one point from the game considering that Nicholas Bilokapic saved Millenic Alli's stoppage time penalty only for the Grecians' man to score an equaliser from the rebound.

That draw meant that the Posh are now without a win in their last seven league games, and the visitors have won just one of their last 11 – a 4-3 victory over Crawley more than a month ago.

It is also notable that Peterborough have not won any of their last nine away league fixtures, and have lost seven and drawn two in a stretch that goes all the way back to late August.

On Saturday, Ferguson's side will be keen to keep their distance from the drop zone, and given their hosts' difficulties against even the league's relegation-threatened sides, they may feel quietly confident of taking all three points.

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Team News

Lincoln are likely to be without midfielder Jack Moylan, who was withdrawn with an injury in the first half of his side's clash against Northampton.

In his place, Tom Bayliss can be expected to patrol the middle of the park alongside Conor McGrandles and Ethan Erhahon.

Peterborough are missing a number of players including left-back Rio Adebisi and goalkeeper Jed Steer.

Loanee left-back Tayo Edun should start in Adebisi's absence, and fellow loanee Sam Hughes is likely to be protecting Nicholas Bilokapic between the posts with Carl Johnston and Emmanuel Fernandez in the backline.

Ferguson will also be without key forward Kwame Poku, who is recovering from a major hamstring injury, so Ricky-Jade Jones could be supported up front by Cian Hayes and Malik Mothersille from wide areas.

Lincoln City possible starting lineup: Jeacock; Jackson, O'Connor, Roughan; Darikwa, McGrandles, Erhahon, Bayliss, Hackett-Fairchild; House, Draper

Peterborough United possible starting lineup: Bilokapic; Johnston, Hughes, Fernandez, Edun; Kyprianou, Collins; Hayes, De Havilland, Mothersille; Jones

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We say: Lincoln City 1-2 Peterborough United

Given Peterborough's dire defensive record, Lincoln are likely to score at some point on Saturday.

However, considering the Imps struggled against Northampton, they could be overpowered by the Posh and may find it difficult to recover should they concede more than once.

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

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