Lincoln City look to go into the second international break of the campaign with another three points against lowly Exeter City at the LNER Stadium.
Factfile
Nickname: The Grecians
Founded: 1901
Location: Devon
Stadium: St James Park
Last Season’s Finish: 16th
Manager: Gary Caldwell
Form
Lincoln City: WWWDDD
Exeter City: LLLLWL
Team News & Updates
Lincoln were able to make eleven changes on Tuesday evening against Manchester United U21’s and still breezed past the Red Devils youth side in the Vertu Trophy. Dexter Lembikisa made his debut in red and white, providing an assist and winning Man of the Match in a result which almost guarantees progression to the knockout stages.
But he faces a difficult fight to get into City’s matchday squad, given the plethora of options we have at our disposal. After moving to three at the back during the second half at Peterborough United last week, we are likely to revert to the same side that started at London Road. Dom Jefferies and Jack Moylan remain the only first-team absentees.
After this, the Imps face a two-week break from action, after the highly anticipated trip to leaders Bradford City was called up due to international call-ups in our camp. This fixture is just one of three games in October, with the schedule likely to ramp up before Christmas. Conor McGrandles is one yellow card away from a suspension, having been cautioned on four occasions thus far.
Exeter haven’t had the same injury luck as us recently. Sonny Cox joined their growing injury list after tearing his Pectineus muscle and will likely be out of action for six to eight weeks. Carlos Mendes Gomes suffered a significant blow a week earlier thanks to a muscular injury.
Kevin McDonald is back in training, while Ryan Dydel is fighting to be back involved, alongside Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Aitchison. Akeel Higgins returned against Huddersfield Town with a ten-minute cameo, while Reece Cole and Johnly Yfeko also featured against the Terriers.
Predicted Starting XIs
Lincoln City (4-2-3-1): Wickens, Darikwa, Jackson, Bradley, Reach, McGrandles, Bayliss, Street, Draper, House, Collins
Exeter City (4-2-3-1): Whitworth, Sweeney, Fitzwater, Turns, Andrew, Brierley, Doyle-Hayes, Niskanen, McMillan, Wareham**,** Magennis
Exeter City: Season So Far
Four losses on the spin have left Exeter perilously close to the bottom four in League One. Three wins from their first six represented a decent return in the opening month of the campaign, thumping Blackpool and Peterborough United on their own patch.
A fortuitous win at Wycombe Wanderers, courtesy of a disastrous own goal from the Chairboys’ Jack Grimmer, is the Grecians’ only positive result away from Devon this season. Defeats against Doncaster Rovers and Northampton Town, both on the road and without scoring, were a sign of things to come, alongside the home reverse against Mansfield Town.
Cup competitions have been of little consolation, crashing out of the Carabao Cup to League Two Cheltenham Town, along with a loss in their opening Vertu Trophy encounter against Cardiff City. Three of their four league defeats last month were by a single goal margin, coming to Rotherham United, Stevenage and Huddersfield Town, along with a two-nil defeat against Port Vale.
Head-to-head
Lincoln City Wins: 28
Draws: 21
Exeter City Wins: 21
Last Meeting: Lincoln City 0-0 Exeter City (22nd March 2025)
Prediction
Team vs Team prediction: Lincoln City 1-0 Exeter City
With just one goal between the sides in the last three meetings, expect a closely-fought encounter in spite of their opposing form. This represents a potential banana skin for the Imps, but expect Michael Skubala’s side to continue their winning run with a narrow victory.