Stoke City – Lincoln

Match analysis

Stoke City host Lincoln in what promises to be a tightly contested fixture, with the home side sitting tenth on 10 points after three wins, a draw and three defeats, their goal tally perfectly balanced at 11‑11. Lincoln, languishing in sixteenth place with eight points from two wins, two draws and two losses, will be looking to improve on a modest 5‑6 goal record. The gap between the two clubs is narrow, and both will be eager to close the gap to the safety zone as the season reaches its midpoint. A win for Stoke could see them climb into the top half, while a point for Lincoln would keep their hopes of climbing out of the relegation zone alive.