Will Lincoln remain a red rag for the Black Cats?
For many years now, AFC Sunderland have been trying to make a return to one of the top two divisions in England. Season after season, however, the Black Cats fail narrowly. In 2018/19, for example, they only lost the decisive play-off final and in 2020/21 they also made it to the semi-finals of the play-offs. However, the end of the line came after a first leg and a second leg against Lincoln City.
Exactly this clash awaits us on Tuesday evening, which is otherwise almost “football-free” due to the international matches starting on Wednesday. It is therefore all the more interesting to take a detailed look at the match between Lincoln City and Sunderland. The odds suggest an even match in any case, even though the guest is seen by the bookmakers with a German licence just in front.
But before approaching a prediction on the match outcome in the aforementioned duel Lincoln City vs Sunderland, consideration should be given to the constellation in the EFL Trophy While the home side have already played and won two matches in the group of four, the White and Reds are only now entering the competition.
Given that one point would definitely be enough for the host Imps to make it to the knockout stage, it seems quite likely that they will get it against a B or C team of the visitors. For the X, which both teams could certainly live with quite well, a lucrative 3.60 is currently offered at the top via the Unibet App
Lincoln City – Statistics & current form
Lincoln City came within a whisker of a huge coup last season. If the final relegation match against Blackpool had not been lost by the narrowest of margins, we would not even be looking at the Imps in the 2021/22 EFL Trophy, as second division teams are not eligible for this competition, which also goes under the name Papa John’s Trophy.
Despite all the understandable disappointment at missing out on promotion to the Championship by the narrowest of margins, pride in recent years prevails for the Imps from the East Midlands. In 2016/17 they were still in the fifth division (!), but in their second season in the Fourth Division they were promoted to the third highest football league on the island for the first time. In the current season, however, the team of coach Michael Appleton is still having a little trouble matching the performances of the previous season.
Will Lincoln punch their ticket to the last 32?
After eleven matchdays, Lincoln City have only twelve points. With a record of three wins, three draws and already five defeats, last year’s fifth-placed side are in a sobering 16th place, but they did manage a respectable 2-2 draw at home to third-placed Plymouth Argyle at the weekend. The fact that the equaliser came in injury time and from a penalty could well give the team a mental boost.
The Appleton eleven will be challenged again on Tuesday. In the EFL Trophy, they will be looking for an early ticket to the knockout phase. City have won both of their group games so far, so a point in front of their home crowd on Tuesday evening will be enough to see them through to the next round.
We think it is quite possible that a tip on the double chance 1/X will come true in the clash between Lincoln City and Sunderland, especially as the coach has already indicated that he will rotate relatively little. On the one hand, because the actually insignificant cup competition is probably close to the coach’s heart and he wants to make a good impression at home. But on the other hand, due to many injuries and a thin squad, the personnel options for a full rotation are currently not available.
Predicted Lincoln City line-up:
Long – Bramall, Montsma, Eyoma, Poole – Bridcutt, Fiorini – Scully, Bishop, Adelakun – Hopper
Last matches played by Lincoln City:
Sunderland – Statistics & current form
AFC Sunderland have only one big goal this season, to which everything is subordinated: Promotion to the Championship. In previous years, the Black Cats have often come close, but always had to give way to other teams in the end. In order to avoid having to master the playoffs in 2021/22, the aim is to finish first or second after the regular season
After eleven of a total of 46 completed match days, the club’s managers, who experienced huge media hype through their own Netflix documentary “Sunderland- Til I die”, can definitely be satisfied with the results. Seven victories are offset by one draw and two defeats. Nevertheless, the top of the table had to be temporarily relinquished at the weekend after a disgraceful 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
EFL Trophy has lowest priority
Overall, you have to differentiate in these weeks whether the Black Cats are playing at home at the Stadium of Light or away. While AFC have six wins from six home games at home, they have only managed one win away from home in four games The goal difference of 4:8 also underlines the statistical weakness away from home, which can definitely be used as an argument to make a prediction on the home side on Tuesday night between Lincoln City and Sunderland.
Another reason is the possibly subordinate relevance of the EFL Trophy this year On the one hand, because the Black Cats already won the title last year and the greed has therefore subsided somewhat. On the other hand, however, also due to the fact that the third division club has already advanced to the last 16 in the League Cup and therefore pays more attention to the financially far more attractive EFL Cup besides the league.
Moreover, it should not be forgotten that the visitors still have every chance of progressing even in the event of defeat. Consequently, coach Lee Johnson will not send his strongest formation into the race, but will instead field a B or even C eleven. The large squad will definitely allow for this, even though the odds for an away win in the Lincoln City vs. Sunderland clash are far too low for us in view of the aforementioned aspects and therefore contain no value.
Predicted line-up of Sunderland:
Patterson – Cirkin, Alves, Doyle, Huggins – Taylor, Neil, Embleton, Dajaku – Broadhead, Kimpioka
Last matches played by Sunderland:
Lincoln City – Sunderland Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The two teams know each other inside out. Primarily, of course, that’s because there have been five meetings at must-win level in the past ten months alone. In the regular League One season 2020/21, Sunderland won 4-0 at Lincoln but suffered a disappointing 1-1 draw at home.
After the supposed favourites at least managed to win the EFL Trophy semi-final against the Imps on penalties, the fiasco followed in the play-off semi-finals towards the Championship. Lincoln City prevailed 3-2 on first and second legs to reach the play-off final and ensure another failed attempt at promotion for the Johnson side.
Lincoln City – Sunderland Tip
Brisance is definitely in the Lincoln City vs Sunderland match. Especially the play-off games from the summer still have an effect on the visitors. But we dare to doubt whether the revenge will be achieved in the EFL Trophy of all places, because the cup competition for third and fourth division teams as well as U21 Premier League teams is of very little importance for the Black Cats in the current season.
Since Coach Johnson’s team has made it to the last 16 in the far more important League Cup and the goal of promotion is a top priority anyway, the coach will crank up the rotation machine and send a B eleven onto the pitch at most. Consequently, we don’t really understand why lower betting odds are offered on the away win between Lincoln City and Sunderland.
The Imps have won their first two games in the competition and would qualify early for the next round in the event of a draw. Due to many injuries, the coach’s hands are tied, so there will not be many changes in the starting eleven compared to the league.
The bottom line is that the visitors will not leave the pitch as winners. Therefore, we have decided to bet on the double chance 1/X in the duel between Lincoln City and Sunderland. At Unibet we can pick up a 1.55, which we confidently play with a stake of seven units.
