Sunderland welcome relegation-threatened Lincoln City to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening knowing that a win would take them to the top of League One.

Lee Johnson’s side have been in free-flowing goalscoring form, scoring 11 goals in their previous 3 games, including the 5-0 demolition of Sheffield Wednesday last time out at home.

The Black Cats have a fantastic home record winning ten of their twelve battles one Wearside and are currently on a 10 game unbeaten run.

Sunderland faced a tough fixture last time out, drawing 3-3 away at Wycombe in a top of the table clash. The away side scored in the closing stages and thought they had claimed all three points before conceding in the 99th minute as the hosts rescued a late point.

Ross Stewart scored another two goals at Adams Park, the Scottish frontman having now netted 17 times in 25 league appearances this season, making him the leading goalscorer in League One.

Despite having played more games than most of their promotion rivals, the Black Cats can lay down a huge marker in the race to the Championship on Tuesday evening with a win over Lincoln. The hosts are one of the favourites for the automatic places and have all the momentum heading into the second half of the season.

Johnson’s side still have key games against Wigan and Rotherham coming up in the next couple of months but face six games in the next eight against teams in the bottom half of the table, knowing that if they continue their unbeaten form they will have some much-needed momentum for the crunch games ahead.

Sunderland edged the Papa John’s trophy meeting between the two sides back in October, winning 2-1 at the Sincil Bank Stadium courtesy of goals from Dan Neil and Stephen Wearne.

Meanwhile, Lincoln only moved outside of the relegation zone at the weekend, getting the better of promotion contenders Oxford United. The Imps (nicknamed after the legend of the Lincoln Imp) would have expected to continue their fine form from last season which saw them agonisingly miss out on a place in the Championship after their League One play-off loss.

However, Michael Appleton’s side have struggled to find any sort of form this term and face a battle for survival for the remainder of the season. The side earned an unexpected victory over Oxford to move Appleton’s team outside of the bottom four, ending a seven-game winless streak in the process.

Given the players at his disposal, Appleton will be confident that Lincoln will eventually move clear of any danger, but they require more performances like the one at Sincil Bank at the weekend.

FORM

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• Sunderland have won their last two matches against Lincoln in all competitions, winning 2-1 at home in the second leg of last season’s League One play-offs and 2-1 in the EFL Trophy earlier this season.
• In 2021, Sunderland won 19 home matches in all competitions, only ever winning more in two years in their history: 24 in 1962 and 23 in 1998.
• Since a run of three consecutive away league clean sheets in April 2021 – all 1-0 wins against Bristol Rovers, Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town – Lincoln have kept one in 13 games on the road, a goalless draw with Doncaster in November.
• Lincoln have only won away at Sunderland once in seven attempts in all competitions (D3 L3), a 4-2 win on Boxing Day in 1959.

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland will be without midfielder Corry Evans, who will have to sit out after suffering a head injury at Wycombe. Johnson has suggested that none of his other sidelined players will return, as Jack Diamond is likely to be named a substitute once again on Tuesday evening.

Denver Hume is available but expected to have a place on the bench.

Bailey Wright is also a doubt after missing the weekend draw in Buckinghamshire, whilst Aiden O’Brien is being monitored as he recovers from Covid-19. Thorben Hoffmann, Lee Burge and Leon Dajaku are also among those who are likely to be absent following positive Covid tests before the weekend.

Anthony Patterson will start in goal once again. Lee Johnson gave an update this morning:

“All we can do is pray, really. I don’t think we’ll have any injuries back, but I’m not sure. Maybe Aiden O’Brien can play a part, we’ll just have to see. The boys have got to recover, and we go again. We’re on the right path, we keep going, we stay strong, and we’ll keep trying to improve.”

Lincoln defender Lewis Montsma sustained a knee injury against Oxford, leading to Lasse Sorensen having to deputise in a deeper position than usual. Fellow central defenders Joe Walsh (quad) and Adam Jackson (concussion) remain out, with Regan Poole and TJ Eyoma set partner each other at Sunderland on Tuesday.

Given the club’s injury list, midfielder Sorensen may line up in that role on Tuesday, while Anthony Scully will be assessed after making his first start since November 20.

Michael Appleton is ready to recall Max Melbourne from his loan spell at Stevenage amid Lincoln City’s centre-back shortage. With no back-up in the heart of defence, Melbourne looks set to rejoin the club, although it may only be a short-term solution.

POTENTIAL LINE-UPs

SAFC:                                                                                               LCFC:

Pre-match thoughts? Score predictions? Will Johnson’s side go top of League One?

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