After 7 years in League One, the Blues are about to embark on their final adventure in the 3rd tier. Matchday number 46 comes from Sincil Bank with promotion to the Championship already secured for Pompey.
Play-Off hopefuls Lincoln City will be looking to retain their place in the top 6 this weekend when John Mousinho’s title-winning side make the journey up for the final game of the campaign.
We’ve taken a closer look into The Imps ahead of the season finale.
MANAGER
The Imps are now managed by former Leeds United youth and first team coach Michael Skubala.
The 41-year-old was placed at the helm at Sincil Bank on the 13th of November, just under a month after the dismissal of Mark Kennedy.
This is Skubala’s first full managerial role having only previously led Leeds out as caretaker boss over 3 matches last February.
Since taking over at Lincoln, he has overseen 14 wins from 30 competitive games, which has given him a win percentage of 46.7.
ONE TO WATCH
Our one to watch is former Pompey player Reeco Hackett.
The winger also played for the likes of Charlton Athletic and Bromley before joining Lincoln on a 3-year deal in June.
Hackett’s goal against Northampton Town in August led him to winning the League One Goal of the Month award.
The 26-year-old was also nominated for the League One Player of the Month in February this year with 4 goals and 2 assists in five matches.
This campaign, Hackett has scored 7 goals and made 4 assists in 29 appearances.
Reeco Hackett wears the number 7 shirt for the Imps.
TOP SCORER
21-year-old striker Joe Taylor currently leads the way in front of goal.
The Luton Town loanee has made quite the impact since joining in January - With 18 league appearances, Taylor has accumulated 10 goals and 3 assists.
He won the League One Player of the Month award and the EFL Young Player of the Month for March this year following 6 goals and an assist which also included his first professional hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Bristol Rovers.
The striker wears the number 9 shirt.
CURRENT FORM
With just 1 defeat in 19 league games since New Year’s Day, Michael Skubala’s side have managed to maintain a strong, but late push for the League One Play-Offs.
That defeat ended 2-1 and put an end to The Imps’ 16-game unbeaten run, the team they faced was none other than Wigan Athletic who a week later ended Pompey’s own unbeaten run of 17 games.
Last time out, Lincoln came out on top away from home with a 2-1 victory against Cheltenham Town, moving up to 6th place and leapfrogging Oxford United on goal difference.
In the reverse of this fixture at Fratton Park, the Blues came out on top with a first half 2-1 win thanks to goals from Paddy Lane and Regan Poole.
Pompey have held a strong record against the Imps for the past 5 seasons in League One with 6 victories, 2 draws and 1 loss from 9 fixtures.
Lincoln would need to win this fixture to remain in Play-Off positions however if Barnsley drop points, a draw will take The Imps to 5th on goal difference.
A defeat to the Blues could still mathematically keep the promotion dreams alive but only if Oxford in 7th taste defeat in their game against Exeter City.
Can Portsmouth end their 7-year stay in League One the way they started it… with a win?
Tune in for all of the unmissable action of the Blues' final match of the 2023/24 League One season, this Saturday (April 27th) morning from 11am.
Kick-off: 12:30pm!
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