MATCHWATCH : Lincoln City (a)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday August 2 2025, 3pm
Where : Sincil Bank, Lincoln, LN5 8LD
Capacity : 10,780

So another season is upon us and it’s the first one the club has had without the threat to it’s very existence hanging over it in a long time so plenty to celebrate.

Quite definitely it’s all change with new owners and a completely new team coming in, key members of last season (Knibbs, Bindon & Mbengue) have gone leaving some very big holes to be filled and no one really knows yet if the club have done enough to cover those holes though after an indifferent, at best, pre season many fans will be siding with the fact the club is still looking for its shovel.

Lincoln have lost some key players too, Paudie O’Connor is now a Royal and fellow Irish defender Sean Roughan has joined Huddersfield to be replaced by Sonny Bradley from Derby and Ryley Towler from Portsmouth. Midfielder Ethan Erhahon has also gone, joining Bolton. There’s still another month for everyone to live through until the transfer window closes though so plenty of time for more changes as it’s doubtful any club has its finalised squad together quite yet.

The Imps have done rather better in their preseason lark, beating Hull behind closed doors before losing 4-3 to Bromley in Portugal and then 5-3 to Huddersfield behind closed doors. However there is a bit more positivity amongst their fans as things were rounded off with a 4-2 victory over West Brom on Saturday while the Reading fans initial hope for the season was being wrecked by a totally inept performance against Portsmouth.

Reading have a number of options to choose from in team selection and really the only thing we can be sure of at this point is that Pereira will be in goal and Wing & Savage will take up places in midfield. It is hoped that further new faces will be added to the squad this week so some of the depressive malaise inflicted after Saturday might be lifted before kick off.

Referee

Martin Woods

Previously

29 Dec 24 > Reading 2-1 Mansfield Town
23 Dec 23 > Reading 2-0 Wigan Athletic

Historically

Thirteen seasons shared with our friends from Lincolnshire so far and overall the northerners have the edge by three wins overall. In Lincoln the record is pretty with 3 wins compared to 6 for the Imps. It has been the scene of 4-0 and 5-1 thumpings though so a tricky place if you aren't in the right frame of mind or organised properly. Generally though, draws are the order of the day between these two teams.

Since returning to the 3rd tier Reading haven’t won any of the 4 games played against Lincoln, the best results being a couple of 1-1 draws so now is the time to step up and change things for the better.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. Red button and/or the NOW app (Sky Sports+)
3. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
4. Ring/text a mate for updates
5. Use a RoyalsTV subscription
6. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[PieEater]

I'm going to this one, but not expecting much with our new team of strangers and no goal threat. If we get away without a total trashing I'll be happy, having booked trains - leaving early in disgust at half time will mean a detour to the pub.

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

[Brogue]

4-0 Lincoln

[Dirk Gently]

So another season is upon us and it’s the first one the club has had for a long time without the threat of scoring any goals...

Sadly, cfy...

[Mid Sussex Royal]

I can see a similar insipid performance to last season there where we set up not to concede, have no threat up front, and lose 0-2.

[leon]

a shit start to the season 3-0

[traff]

Come on, where’s your fighting spirit?
I can see a hard-fought war of attrition unfolding, the kind of game where grit triumphs over logic. Against all odds, we come away with one of our best results of the season.
A defiant, unforgettable 0-0.

[Stranded]

Lincoln 0 Reading 1 (O'Connor 89)

[Whore Jackie]

I'm going to this one, but not expecting much with our new team of strangers and no goal threat. If we get away without a total trashing I'll be happy, having booked trains - leaving early in disgust at half time will mean a detour to the pub.

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

First timer to Sincil Bank or indeed Lincoln. Either of the above worth visiting?

[PieEater]

I'm going to this one, but not expecting much with our new team of strangers and no goal threat. If we get away without a total trashing I'll be happy, having booked trains - leaving early in disgust at half time will mean a detour to the pub.

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

First timer to Sincil Bank or indeed Lincoln. Either of the above worth visiting?

There are few Magna Carta's dotted around the UK, this one is in the castle where you have to pay to see it, you can get replicas in the free to enter gift shop though, and probably replica imps too.

I'm not sure but i guess they may charge or guilt you to pay enter the cathedral, IIRC the Imp is underwhelming.

We'll probably do a walk around the outside before heading to the pub.

[Snowflake Royal]

I refuse to shit the bed over 1 bad pre-season game.

1-1.

Tough start, but reallygood test of where we are, with a bad result an easy write off given ongoing recruitment and number of newbies likely to feature.

[Whore Jackie]

I'm going to this one, but not expecting much with our new team of strangers and no goal threat. If we get away without a total trashing I'll be happy, having booked trains - leaving early in disgust at half time will mean a detour to the pub.

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

First timer to Sincil Bank or indeed Lincoln. Either of the above worth visiting?

There are few Magna Carta's dotted around the UK, this one is in the castle where you have to pay to see it, you can get replicas in the free to enter gift shop though, and probably replica imps too.

I'm not sure but i guess they may charge or guilt you to pay enter the cathedral, IIRC the Imp is underwhelming.

We'll probably do a walk around the outside before heading to the pub.

TBF, I was slightly underwhelmed with Runnymede, so will also explore Lincoln's free bits and pub scene.

[PieEater]

First timer to Sincil Bank or indeed Lincoln. Either of the above worth visiting?

There are few Magna Carta's dotted around the UK, this one is in the castle where you have to pay to see it, you can get replicas in the free to enter gift shop though, and probably replica imps too.

I'm not sure but i guess they may charge or guilt you to pay enter the cathedral, IIRC the Imp is underwhelming.

We'll probably do a walk around the outside before heading to the pub.

TBF, I was slightly underwhelmed with Runnymede, so will also explore Lincoln's free bits and pub scene.

I've not looked this up, but I was schooled on all things Magna Carta related on Saturday. It was "just" signed at Runnymede, the other copies are in the British Museum and Salisbury and maybe one in Harvard.

[Sutekh]

I'm going to this one, but not expecting much with our new team of strangers and no goal threat. If we get away without a total trashing I'll be happy, having booked trains - leaving early in disgust at half time will mean a detour to the pub.

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

First timer to Sincil Bank or indeed Lincoln. Either of the above worth visiting?

There are few Magna Carta's dotted around the UK, this one is in the castle where you have to pay to see it, you can get replicas in the free to enter gift shop though, and probably replica imps too.

I'm not sure but i guess they may charge or guilt you to pay enter the cathedral, IIRC the Imp is underwhelming.

We'll probably do a walk around the outside before heading to the pub.

[tidus_mi2]

I have wondered if a W/D/L poll might be a good addition to these match threads?

Personally hoping Portsmouth was just a bad day at the office but can't shake the bad feeling it has given me, 2-0 Lincoln.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

There is one of the original Magna Cartas in Lincoln, but I don't think its on display very often.

[Snowflake Royal]

I have wondered if a W/D/L poll might be a good addition to these match threads?

Personally hoping Portsmouth was just a bad day at the office but can't shake the bad feeling it has given me, 2-0 Lincoln.

That's a very good idea.

@

.

[MartinRdg]

I have wondered if a W/D/L poll might be a good addition to these match threads?

Personally hoping Portsmouth was just a bad day at the office but can't shake the bad feeling it has given me, 2-0 Lincoln.

That's a very good idea.

@

.

Yes - without having a full score prediction with scorer and halftime etc which I am not very good at (and is normally a separate thread), a simple WDL would be a good addition.

[rabidbee]

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

Skip the match? The cathedral is amazing, and I’ve only seen it from the outside.

[Hendo]

I'm not sure if we can be bothered to see the Imp in the cathedral or the Magna Carta in the castle prematch.

Skip the match? The cathedral is amazing, and I’ve only seen it from the outside.

Inside is great as well, had my graduation there.