Opposition Lowdown: Michael Skubala’s Playoff-Chasing Lincoln City

Reading’s last game before Christmas sees them take on Lincoln City at the LNER Stadium. Join us as we take a look at the opposition.

Form

Lincoln City finished seventh in League One last season after 20 wins, 14 draws and 12 losses. They were only two points shy of Barnsley who took the final playoff spot. This is their sixth straight season in League One, having secured promotion to the third tier back in 2019, when they won the League Two title under Danny Cowley.

The Imps currently sit in ninth place in the league: three places and three points behind Reading, despite playing one more game. However, they come into this weekend’s contest in a rough patch of form, having lost three and drawn two of their last five games.

Their last match saw them claim a 2-2 draw away to recently relegated Huddersfield Town. The Imps and the Royals played out two 1-1 draws last season, with the last game between the two coming at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in April, when Tyler Bindon secured a point for Reading, scoring an equaliser in the last 10 minutes.

The boss

Michael Skubala: Skubala took over as head coach in November last year, replacing Mark Kennedy, who left the club after a poor run of only one win in six league games.

The 42-year-old has no playing background, but had a 20-year career as a coach prior to his first full-time managerial role. He spent time coaching the England under-18 side and the English Futsal team, before joining Leeds United as the head coach of their under-21 side in 2022.

While at Leeds, Skubala had a three-game spell as interim coach after the sacking of Jesse Marsch in February last year. He joined Javi Gracia’s coaching staff when he took over as Leeds manager.

Skubala has had a strong start to his managerial career, guiding Lincoln to a seventh-placed finish in his first season, currently holding a 45% win percentage during his 58 games in charge.

Skubala is known for his strong focus on player development and wants his side to play an exciting style of football.

Squad

Lincoln signed 13 players over the summer, with 11 joining on permanent deals and two on loan.

They paid a fee for forward Robert Street, who came in from Cheltenham Town, while goalkeeper George Wickens (Fulham), defender Tom Hamer (Burton Albion), midfielder Conor McGrandles (Charlton Athletic) and winger Erik Ring (AIK) also signed on permanent deals.

The Imps also completed the free transfers of goalkeepers Zach Jeacock and Jamie Pardington, defender Tendayi Darikwa and midfielders Tom Bayliss, JJ McKiernan and Dom Jefferies. Their loans were left-back Saxon Earley, who joined from Plymouth Argyle, and forward Bailey Cadamarteri, who signed from Sheffield Wednesday.

A total of 10 players left the club, including midfielder Lasse Sorensen who signed for Huddersfield Town, and goalkeeper Luka Jensen, who joined Championship Millwall. Midfielder Teddy Bishop and winger Hakeeb Adelakun left the club following the end of their contracts.

Midfielders Tom Bayliss and Tom Hamer are both fitness doubts for this Saturday’s game.

Predicted lineup

Wickens, Montsma, O’Connor, Roughan, Darikwa, Hackett, McGrandles, Erhahon, House, Makama, Cadamarteri

Key player

Paudie O’Connor: Defender O’Connor joined Lincoln in June 2022, signing on a free transfer from Bradford City following the end of his contract.

O’Connor started his career in his homeland of Ireland, where he played youth football for Limerick before making his professional debut for the club in 2015. O’Connor made 51 appearances for Limerick before going on to join Leeds in 2017.

He made four appearances for Leeds while also having loan spells at Blackpool and Bradford, the latter of whom he went on to join permanently in 2019. The 27-year-old spent three years at the Bantams, making 129 appearances and scoring eight goals, while also picking up two player of the year awards.

O’Connor signed for Lincoln in the summer of 2022 and was made club captain a year later. He has gone on to make 119 appearances for Lincoln, scoring seven goals. The Irishman is a centre-back who is strong in the air, while also being an effective intercepter of the ball on the ground.

One to watch

Ben House: Forward House signed for Lincoln in January 2022, joining from non-league Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee.

House started his youth career at Aldershot Town before joining the youth setup at Reading in 2016. He signed his first pro deal while with the Royals and came on as a substitute in an FA Cup game against Cardiff City. While at Reading he spent time on loan at Swindon Town and Dagenham and Redbridge.

House signed a permanent deal with Eastleigh following the expiry of his contract in 2020. He played for the Spitfires 56 times, scoring 13 goals.

Since joining Lincoln in 2022, the 25-year-old has netted 21 times, with five of those coming this season, making him the club’s top goalscorer so far. The Scotsman has represented his country at under-21 level and has two caps to his name.

House is a centre-forward who can also play in the number 10 role and is a physical presence both in attack and defence.