Lincoln vs Accrington preview
Thursday 2 April 2020 12:12, UK
Lincoln boss Danny Cowley is hoping to have a new striker on show for his side's League One opener against Accrington.
Tyler Walker has reportedly agreed a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest and the Red Imps are trying to push through his registration in time.
Cowley has a number of injury concerns for his side's return to the third tier for the first time this century. Tom Pett has picked up a minor knee injury during pre-season, while Michael O'Connor is still struggling with a hip complaint.
Accrington boss John Coleman is expecting a tough test against a side who eased to the League Two title last season. Most of Coleman's seven summer signings are available at Sincil Bank - with the club working on bringing in more new faces before the transfer deadline.
However defender Ben Barclay will definitely not feature as he is still suspended from a loan spell at Notts County last season. And Coleman is also without Offrande Zanzala, who faces at least two more weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Opta stats
Lincoln City, who lost 0-1 the last time they met Accrington Stanley in April 2018, have never before lost back-to-back league games against Stanley.
Accrington Stanley are winless in six previous league visits to Sincil Bank (P6 W0 D1 L5), the highest number of games they have played away at a particular side without ever winning in the English Football League.
Lincoln are playing in the third tier of English football for the first time this century, last competing at this level back in 1998-99. The Imps kicked off their last such campaign with a 0-2 defeat at Bournemouth under manager Shane Westley.
Accrington Stanley will open their league campaign away from home for the first time since 2013-14, when they lost 1-4 at Newport County.
Accrington manager John Coleman has only lost more league matches against Rochdale (eight) and Shrewsbury Town (nine) than he has versus Lincoln City (seven).
