A first home winning streak or a third draw for the visitors? Prediction for the Preston vs Lincoln Championship match
On Saturday, 12 September 2026, at 17:00 EEST, Deepdale in Preston will host round 7 action in the English Championship 2026/27 season, with Preston North End welcoming Lincoln City.
The hosts occupy the foot of the table and are in desperate need of points in front of their home supporters, while the visitors arrive determined to extend their unbeaten run.
The two sides have not crossed paths in competitive league fixtures for decades. Their only recent encounter was a pre-season friendly at Deepdale in July 2024, in which Lincoln City claimed a narrow 1–0 victory.
Preston North End
The start of the campaign has been challenging for Preston, with five defeats from their first six league outings. However, Paul Heckingbottom's men have looked far more composed on home turf, having dispatched Blackburn Rovers 2–1 in their previous outing at Deepdale. The primary threat up front remains striker Callum Lang (three league goals), who is consistently supplied by deliveries from wide positions courtesy of Frenchman Léo Leroy.
A significant concern for the hosts remains an extensive casualty list in defence and midfield: Brad Potts, Andrew Hughes, Andrija Vukčević, and Alistair McCann are all sidelined through injury.
Lincoln City
The Imps have adapted well to the physical demands of the Championship and are unbeaten across three consecutive league fixtures: a 1–0 away triumph at Bolton, followed by home draws against Blackburn (0–0) and Southampton (1–1).
Chris Cohen's side rely on an ultra-pragmatic style with low possession figures (averaging around 35%), erecting a disciplined defensive wall and looking to strike via set pieces and swift counters through Ukrainian midfielder Ivan Varfolomieiev and Scottish forward Ben House. For the visitors, Tendayi Darikwa, Thomas Hamer, and Mason Melia remain out of contention.
Predicted Line-ups
- Preston North End: Iversen – Clarke, Offiah, Storey, Gibson, Wiley – Devine, Leroy, Gibbs – Lang, Kenny
- Lincoln City: Wickens – Towler, Elerewe, Bradley – Coubiș, Ivan, McGrandles, Reach – Street, House, Draper.
Prediction
Both Teams to Score has landed in five of Preston's six league fixtures so far this season. The hosts' reshuffled defensive unit continues to show vulnerabilities, but their aggressive approach at Deepdale almost always produces a goal. My prediction: Both Teams to Score – Yes.
