Barnsley take to the field for the first time since being thrown out of the FA Cup in midweek when they travel to Lincoln City on Saturday.
Both clubs are chasing promotion in League One, and Barnsley will look to put off-field headlines behind them against a Lincoln side under new management.
Match preview
© Reuters
A calamitous administrative error cost Barnsley the opportunity of an FA Cup run this season, as they became just the second club in over a century to be thrown out of the competition.
Fielding an ineligible player in their replay success over Horsham means the non-league side will now go through at their expense, despite a routine 3-0 win in West Sussex.
While their FA Cup hopes are over, Barnsley do still have the EFL Trophy to fall back on, as despite losing 5-1 at Bradford City in midweek, they still progressed to the knockout stages.
Promotion will be number one on the agenda for manager Neill Collins though, but after winning just one of their last four league games, they are slipping further away from the automatic promotion places.
Despite being one of the title favourites pre-season, Barnsley are nine points adrift of the summit and eight behind Oxford United in second.
While no side has scored more than the Tykes, and they still have one of the best defensive records in the division, they have peculiarly only won half of their 16 league games so far.
Lincoln are one of the sides looking to hunt them down and punish them for their recent blip, as new manager Michael Skubala got his first win in charge during midweek.
© Reuters
The hosts are just one point behind their upcoming opponents, and even though they have played two games more, some may argue that points on the board are better than games in hand.
Lincoln were one of just four sides in League One action last weekend due to the international break, and they also played in the division's solitary midweek fixture.
That brought great success for Skubala, as he recorded his first victory, beating Leyton Orient 1-0 thanks to Ethan Hamilton's late goal, just days after losing at Stevenage.
The midweek win ended a four-game winless run for the Imps, as positive form must be maintained if they are to compete in what is shaping up to be a very intense battle for the playoffs, with Derby County and Blackpool both above them, level on points with Barnsley in the final playoff spot.
Team News
© Reuters
Lincoln have two lingering injury issues to deal with, as both Tyler Walker (hamstring) and Ben House (hip) are set to miss out.
Hakeeb Adelakun and Daniel Mandriou are battling for a spot in the side having alternated starts since Skubala took over, but the former may be fancied having started during the midweek win.
Jonathan Russell should return for Barnsley after he was absent from both cup matches over the last week, as he was away with the Jamaica squad which beat Canada over two legs in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Callum Styles also enjoyed success with his adopted nation Hungary, helping them to qualify for Euro 2024, playing 90 minutes in their 2-2 draw away in Bulgaria.
The visitors will be able to call upon Herbie Kane again after he was suspended for the clash with Derby, and was rested for the game in midweek at Valley Parade.
Youngster Jack Shephard will be banned, though, after he was sent off late on in the defeat at Bradford in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Sorensen, Mitchell, Jackson, Eyoma, Duffy; Hamilton, Erhahon; Smith, Vale, Adelakun
Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Killip; O'Keeffe, Williams, Durand de Gevigney, McCarty, Cadden; Russell, Styles, Phillips; Watters, Cole
We say: Lincoln City 0-1 Barnsley
The sides have met four times in the 21st century, and the home side on the day is still yet to score, including in a 0-0 draw here last season.
Barnsley's decent defensive record suggests that record could continue in a game they may just edge to return to winning ways in the league.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
