Exeter City and Lincoln City are both seeking to bounce back from draws when they meet at St James Park on Saturday afternoon in League One action.

The hosts are looking to make it three games unbeaten here, while the visitors are unbeaten in all competitions since January 10.

Match preview

Exeter enter this clash currently sat in 12th place in the table, having picked up 43 points from the 34 games they have played so far.

Kevin McDonald's second-half equaliser earned the Grecians a point away at Wycombe Wanderers last time out – his second goal in as many matches.

Exeter had gone behind inside 90 seconds when Chem Campbell eventually capitalised on a defensive error to score his first goal in his career, but Gary Caldwell's side rallied back and finally levelled to avoid a third successive defeat on their travels.

Caldwell will be pleased with his side's home form as of late, as the Grecians have picked up four points from a possible six in their last two games at St James Park, and he will be looking for his team to build on Exeter's most recent home outing, which was a 2-0 victory over Cambridge United, courtesy of strikes from Archie Collins and Kevin McDonald.

Lincoln, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 0-0 draw with Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening, extending their unbeaten run in League One to 10 games.

The Imps have been draw specialists during that run – the stalemate against Cheltenham marks their 18th of the campaign so far.

However, Mark Kennedy will be quietly confident his side can get a result at St James Park this weekend, as Lincoln's last taste of defeat in the league came back on January 7 in a 2-1 defeat away at Charlton Athletic.

As it stands, Kennedy's men are 11th in the table, some 16 points behind sixth-placed Derby County, so it would take a monumental effort to make the playoffs at this stage of the campaign.

Team News

For the hosts, Rekeem Harper returned to the side last time against Wycombe after serving a one-game suspension for his dismissal in the defeat to Port Vale, so it looks likely that he will retain his place in the starting XI this weekend.

Harper's inclusion against Wycombe was the only change Gary Caldwell made to the team to the one that beat Cambridge the week prior, so we could see an unchanged side named on Saturday.

Gary Woods will start between the sticks, while Pierce Sweeney, Will Aimson and Alex Hartridge are expected to make up the defence.

Kevin McDonald will retain his place in midfield after scoring two goals in his last two appearances, and Sam Nombe is likely to lead the line for the Grecians.

As for the visitors, Mark Kennedy is unlikely to find a reason to alter a side enjoying this unbeaten run, so the Imps could also be unchanged on Saturday afternoon.

However, Lincoln were boosted by the return of Matty Virtue in midweek following his spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Ben House has scored eight league goals this term and is again set to operate in the final third of the field, while Danny Mandroiu will be bidding to add to the five league goals that he has managed this campaign.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Woods; Sweeney, Aimson, Hartridge; Key, Kite, McDonald, Mitchell; Harper, Collins; Nombe

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Rushworth; Montsma, O'Connor, Poole; Sorensen, Bishop, Erhahon, Roughan; Shodipo, House, Mandroiu

We say: Exeter City 1-1 Lincoln City

Lincoln's unbeaten run suggests they are hard to beat, so we think they will have enough quality to earn a point on Saturday.

There is not a lot to split the two teams, and the last two meetings between the sides have also resulted in a draw.


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