Southampton-Lincoln City is a League Cup fourth-round match played on Tuesday at 20:45: stats, line-ups and predictions.
The League Cup fourth-round clash with League One club Lincoln City will coincide with Nathan Jones’ second appearance on the Southampton bench. The former Luton Town coach had made his debut as Saints coach before the World Cup break, just days after his predecessor Ralph Hasenhuttl was sacked after a humiliating home defeat to Newcastle (1-4).
The debut was not the best but coming back with points in the bag from Anfield Road against Liverpool was an almost impossible task. Southampton’s last game was against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds, who prevailed 3-1 on that occasion. The stop for Qatar 2022 might have served the former Brighton and Yeovil Town player to understand what to do. Saving the red and whites will not be easy, as they are currently floundering in the relegation zone, with barely 12 points from 15 Premier League games. Ward-Prowse and Co. will resume their march on Boxing Day, facing Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton in front of their home crowd. Then two must-win clashes with newly promoted Fulham and Nottingham Forest.
Jones and his team did not play any friendlies but had a mini-retreat in Spain to prepare for the second half of the season. In the League Cup they will have to face Lincoln City after overcoming obstacles Cambridge United and Sheffield Wednesday, the latter beaten only after penalty kicks. No break, however, for the men led by Mark Kennedy, 14th in League One. Only one defeat in their last seven games for the Red Imps, who last Tuesday overwhelmed Everton U-21 4-2 in the EFL Trophy
Poole
The Prediction
Jones is intent on fielding the best possible line-up, including World Cup veterans Bella-Kotchap and Salisu. There shouldn’t be any surprises, but given how the previous round turned out, we can imagine a hard-fought match, in which Lincoln City will fight hard. The guests are likely to score at least one goal.
Southampton-Lincoln City matchday squad
- SOUTHAMPTON (5-3-2): Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Perraud; Ward-Prowse, Lavia, S. Armstrong; A. Armstrong, Adams.
- LINCOLN CITY (3-4-3): Rushworth; O’Connor, Jackson, Walsh; Poole, Virtue, Sanders, Robson; Vernam, House, Diamond.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
