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

Morecambe play host to Lincoln City on Saturday afternoon looking for the win which could take the club outside of the League One relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Lincoln make the trip to the North West coast keen to edge closer to securing a top-10 finish in the standings.

Match preview

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Although Lincoln have put together undefeated streaks together in the past this season, it has not been until recently where they have put together a beneficial one.

Mark Kennedy's side recently accumulated 14 points from six matches, moving the club into the top half of the table even though they remain with seven more draws than victories.

Lincoln would have hoped to extend that streak against Burton Albion earlier this week, but they succumbed to a 1-0 reverse to the Brewers as their opponents sealed their survival in the third tier.

The solitary goal for Lincoln this season is retaining 10th spot, the current gap to ninth standing at an unassailable nine points, and they can still finish as low as 14th position.

Nevertheless, having recently defeated each of Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers on the road, Kennedy and his team will expect to do the same versus Morecambe.

That is despite their hosts finally discovering some form at the right moment with seven points from three games keeping alive their hopes of survival.

After 10 matches without success, Morecambe have posted victories over each of Wycombe Wanderers and Charlton Athletic to keep themselves within touching distance of 20th place.

With Lincoln and out-of-form Exeter City still to come, Derek Adams will back his side to get out of trouble, but Morecambe have not prevailed three times in succession since the turn of the year.

If Morecambe lost to Lincoln and MK Dons register a surprise win over Barnsley, the Shrimps will be all but relegated due to their vastly inferior goal difference.

Team News

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Max Melbourne appears likely to be restored on the left flank for Morecambe having been introduced as an early second-half substitute at Charlton.

Barring any fitness issues, Adams could stick with the remainder of the starting lineup after his side netted three times in the first 64 minutes at The Valley.

More changes are expected to the Lincoln XI after Kennedy's side failed to find the back of the net versus then relegation-threatened Burton.

Daniel Mandriou is in contention to start on one of the flanks, with youngster Sean Roughan an alternative on the left-hand-side.

With Lincoln having previously been on a good run of form, Kennedy may limit himself to making two alterations.

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Rawson, Bedeau, Gibson; Cooney, Austerfield, Weir, Melbourne; Crowley; Stockton, Gnahoua

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Rushworth; Poole, Jackson, O'Connor; Sorensen, Erhahon, Sanders, Roughan; Shodipo, House, Mandriou

We say: Morecambe 1-2 Lincoln City

Given the magnitude of their recent victories, Morecambe will fancy their chances of a third successive victory. However, Lincoln are looking for a third away success of their own on away territory, leading us to predict a win for Kennedy's side.

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