The Imps take on Sunderland at Sincil Bank this evening. This match will be refereed by Craig Hicks. Kick-off is at 18:00, and team news will be provided below once we have it (press CTRL + R to refresh the page!).
If you would like to get involved with the conversation on 100% Imps, you can join our Lincoln City v Sunderland Match Thread! We have also published a Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz, which can be found just below the team news. Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!
Ahead of this match, we have published a summary of what Michael Appleton said yesterday, 3 things sedgleyimp thinks The Imps need to do to win, and a Q&A with a Sunderland supporter.
ππππ’ πππ¬π¨ π
πΊ @BursikJoe makes his debut
πΊ Adam Jackson returns to the Starting XILet's do this, City πͺ
— Lincoln City FC πΊπ¦ (@LincolnCity_FC) May 19, 2021
π Lee Johnson's starting XI.
Let's go, Lads! πͺ#SAFC I #EFLPlayOffs
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 19, 2021
Referee: Craig Hicks.
Assistants Referees: Andrew Dallison and Hristo Karaivanov.
Fourth Official: Sam Purkiss.
Reserve Assistant Referee: Stephen Wade.
Have a go at our Lincoln City v Sunderland Quiz below:
A few posts provided by Scotimp ahead of the match:
**Β One goal will take City to a century of goals for the eleventh time in the clubβs history.
Lincoln have scored 99 goals in all competitions this season. They have reached the magic century on ten occasions previously:
128: 1951-52
127: 1975-76
114: 1930-31
112: 1931-32, 1987-88
109: 1936-37, 2016-17
103: 1920-21
100: 1927-28, 1982-83
By happy coincidence, the 100th goal has been scored at Sincil Bank on all five occasions since the war. In the last 40 years, Marshall Burke scored the 100th goal of 1982-83 in the 72nd minute of the final game of the season against Gillingham; Mark Sertori got numbers 99 and 100 in the second half of the 5-1 win over Boston in 1987-88; and Matt Rhead hit the century in 2016-17 in the 2-0 televised win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
So, who will get the hundredth goal this time around?
**Β A goal each from Tom Hopper and Lewis Montsma will equal the club record for players reaching double figures in a season.
The club record is five players, set in 1930-31, 1946-47 and 1951-52.
Lincoln currently have three players in double figures for the season:
17: Jorge Grant, Anthony Scully
12: Brennan Johnson
9: Tom Hopper, Lewis Montsma
6: Harry Anderson, Morgan Rogers
The last time Lincoln had four players in double figures in the same season was 1987-88 (Phil Brown 20, John McGinley 20, Paul M Smith 13, Bob Cumming 10).
We have never had six players reach double figures in the same season; Morgan Rogers and Harry Anderson are four goals behind.
** A goal for Lewis Montsma will make him the fourth defender in the clubβs history to reach double figures in a season.
The only defenders to do so are:
1974-75: Sam Ellis, 15 including 10 penalties
1975-76: Sam Ellis, 15 including 10 penalties again
1976-77: Sam Ellis, 10 including 8 penalties
2000-01: Steve Holmes, 11 including 5 penalties
2002-03: Ben Futcher, 11 including no penalties
Therefore Ben Futcher is the first and so far only defender in the clubβs history to reach double figures from open play. Lewis would be the second.
** Jorge Grant and Anthony Scully need three goals each to reach 20 for the season.
It has been done on 42 occasions previously, by 34 different players.
The last player to reach 20 in a season for Lincoln was Matt Rhead, who scored 23 in 2015-16.
Lincoln have not had two players reach 20 goals in the same season since 1987-88. It has only happened on 8 previous occasions:
1911-12 (Walter Miller 21, Sandy McCubbin 20)
1920-21 (Pip Rippon 27, Oscar Brentnall 26)
1926-27 (Billy Dinsdale 25, Harold Andrews 21)
1930-31 (Billy Dinsdale 25, Walter Lax 20)
1950-51 (John Garvie 21, Andy Graver 20)
1951-52 (Andy Graver 39, John Garvie 21, Ernie Whittle 20)
1975-76 (John Ward 29, Percy Freeman 25)
1987-88 (Phil Brown 20, John McGinley 20)
** Jorge Grant needs three goals to make this his most successful season in front of goal.
Grant scored 19 for Notts County in 2017-18 including a goal in each league game against Lincoln. However, none of those 19 came from the penalty spot.
** Tom Hopper needs one goal to make this his most successful season in front of goal.
Hopper scored 9 for Scunthorpe in 2017-18.
