Will Derby County clinch a ticket to the second round of the English League Cup? Prediction for Derby vs Lincoln
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 16:00 Central European Time, the opening whistle will sound at Pride Park in Derby, marking the start of the first round of the 2026/27 English Football League Cup. Championship side Derby County will host Lincoln City.
This season, the EFL has decided to stage the first round of the League Cup before the start of the domestic leagues, making this clash the first official test for both teams.
Derby County finished just short of the Championship playoff zone last season and are now targeting promotion to the Premier League. During the offseason, the Rams made several quality signings: Sammy Szmodics returned from Ipswich, and experienced defender Charlie Taylor also joined the squad. At Pride Park, the hosts traditionally look to dominate from the first whistle, taking control of possession early on.
Although Derby County played a string of tough friendlies against high-level opponents in pre-season (including Germany’s Freiburg and Spain’s Valencia), the hosts still boast a significantly stronger squad than their guests.
Lincoln, meanwhile, come into this match with a new coaching staff led by Tom Shaw. In pre-season, the Imps have been in fine form, winning four of their last five matches—including a confident 2-0 victory over Port Vale.
Lincoln are renowned for their physical discipline, their ability to close down the central areas, and their knack for capitalizing on set pieces. However, their defence has at times struggled away from home against higher-division teams, especially under sustained pressure.
Expect Derby County to control the ball, probing at the visitors’ defensive line with wide attacks and overlapping full-backs. Lincoln City will likely set up with a five-man backline, relying on quick counters and set pieces to create chances.
Derby County are unbeaten in their last four official matches against Lincoln. Their most recent League One encounter ended in a goalless draw (0-0), but at Pride Park, the Rams previously won 3-1.
What to bet on in this clash?
Lincoln are in excellent scoring form and are more than capable of punishing the hosts’ defence from a set piece. That said, the hosts should find the net as well. My prediction: Both teams to score – yes.
