Can the Royals bounce back from last Saturday’s home defeat to Blackpool?
Lincoln City come into this game having not won in their last eight games, picking up four draws and four losses, and finding themselves in ninth place in the league. This could be considered disappointing given that they narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season.
With a game in hand on most around them, Reading find themselves in sixth place. However, a 3-0 loss to Blackpool damaged hopes of playoffs a little bit more for Noel Hunt’s team.
In this preview I will talk about how Lincoln’s passive formation will come to haunt them against stronger opposition, players who have played for both teams, and my predicted lineup.
What? League One matchday 20
Season? 2024/25
Who? Lincoln City
Where? LNER Stadium
When? Saturday December 21
Time? 12:30
Opposition manager? Michael Skubala
Lincoln play in a 4-3-3 and have stuck with this formation since the start of the season.
With Ben House leading the line, Ethan Erhahon sitting deep and Paudie O’Connor in the heart of defence, the Imps may desire a much-needed change when playing against the Royals.
The 4-3-3 is one of the most basic formations to choose when managing a team. It can only work when a team has midfielders that like to control possession, but Lincoln only have one, Erhahon - the only person who seems to fit in this formation.
He loves to be on the ball but this causes a problem. The players within the first team have different play-styles which detriments the team. When two of the midfielders have a different way of playing than the other, the chance of a mistake increases.
The word passive is defined as ‘accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance’. This describes the way Lincoln play quite well. Due to the lack of a specific play-style, they end up inciting the pressure on them when they have and don’t have the ball.
This is great if their play-style is to counter-attack, but it isn’t. Even when they do have the ball, the Imps decide to try and pass it around. They have great individuals, but they are really struggling at the minute to work as a team.
How would I solve this problem?
Firstly, I would drop one of the midfielders and switch to a more cautious formation such as a 4-4-2. If they are unwilling to drop a midfielder then playing a 4-5-1 may help. Dropping the wingers back a little bit to help close the space when defending is another option that could benefit the team.
Ben House is a big name on the team sheet for Lincoln at the moment. In his 86 appearances he has scored 20 goals for the club, including the five he has in this, his fourth season at the club.
House played for Reading between 2017 and 2020 and is another that came through the youth academy. He played 34 times for the Royals’ youth setup but never made a league appearance for the first team, only appearing briefly in the FA Cup.
Robert Dickie didn’t play much for either side but managed one season (20 games) for Lincoln and two for the Royals, but only 11 games.
He is currently at Bristol City, having played 46 games for the club in the two years he has been there.
Sean Long is another who didn’t play much for either side. For Lincoln he had two seasons in which he accumulated 35 appearances.
For the Royals he played one game. He is currently at Forrest Green Rovers, having played 16 games this season.
Finally, Julian Kelly. He played 21 games for the Imps in the season he was there.
The full-back/winger played seven times for the Royals, having also come through the academy.
For those who do know me, they know that I have quite a big footballing family. Most of my dad’s side of the family are Reading fans, but my step mum’s side are all Lincoln supporters, so it would be nice for us to step up and win this one for bragging rights until the next game in April.
In light of this I have asked them all for their predictions:
Dad: 1-1. New-ish manager and ropey away form means we will save the beating until the run-in at the end of the season.
Step-mum: Lincoln will win 2-1.
Grandad: Reading will be 1-0 up at half-time but it will end 4-1 Lincoln!
Uncle: Lincoln 3-1. The Imps have started to find the net a bit more. Watch out for our number nine Bailey Cadamateri (on loan from Sheffield Wednesday).
El Gato Joel Pereira will start in goal (obviously).
The usual back four has taken a knock with Jeriel Dorsett and Amadou Mbengue injured again. This means it is likely to be Michael Craig, Tyler Bindon, Louie Holzman and Andre Garcia who feature in defence.
I hope the rumours of bids coming in for our midfielders don’t knock their confidence. I think our midfield three will be Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs.
The partnership of Sam Smith and Chem Campbell has been revolutionised lately and I expect them to continue this against the Imps, alongside Mamadi Camara.
Score prediction: 2-1 Royals!
Good luck to the travelling fans and good luck to Noel Hunt and his team.
Come on you Royals!
