Lincoln City welcome Portsmouth to Pro-Ampac Stadium on Saturday in an EFL Championship match that marks the first visit of the league to Sincil Bank. The hosts, who have risen from League Two to the Championship in 10 years, will shows a newly renovated stadium with record crowds expected. Coach Chris Cohen emphasized the importance of the game, stating: 'We’re in a good place with a couple not too far away and a couple coming to join us.' The Imps’ 27-game unbeaten run ended last week with a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough, but Cohen remains optimistic about the team’s strength and the impact of new loanee Yunus Konak.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, aim to recover from their 2-0 defeat to Queen’s Park Rangers, which left them 22nd in the Championship table. Despite a £10m summer transfer window featuring signings like Abu Kamara and Marko Milovanovic, the south coast side are focused on survival after finishing 16th and 18th in their first two Championship campaigns. Their head-to-head record against Lincoln is unfavorable, with 15 wins to the Imps’ six, though Portsmouth’s 22nd-place position suggests a defensive focus.
The match carries historical weight, as Portsmouth’s 2-0 victory at Pro-Ampac in 2023/24 ended Lincoln’s play-off hopes. John Mousinho’s side has extended their 14-game unbeaten streak against the Imps since 1981, with only one loss in that span. Current Lincoln players like Reeco Hackett and Ryley Towler, who previously played for Portsmouth, add a layer of familiarity, though Towler’s recent departure highlights the fluidity of the rivalry.
