Southampton and Lincoln City will meet for the first time in a competitive fixture on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup fourth round. The Premier League team, Southampton, will aim to avoid a giant killing at the hands of League One’s Lincoln City.
The Imps go into the game having played throughout November and December. Southampton had a break from competitive action due to the World Cup and have not played a fixture since November 12.
🆚 Lincoln City🏟 The Dell⏮ 1996 pic.twitter.com/Ec50KnSTvd— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 19, 2022
🆚 Lincoln City🏟 The Dell⏮ 1996 pic.twitter.com/Ec50KnSTvd
Nathan Jones has had over four weeks to get to know the Southampton squad after he took over the reins of the team from Ralph Hassenhuttl. Jones is aiming to end a five-game winless streak for the Saints.
Lincoln City are unbeaten in back-to-back games ahead of the trip to St Mary’s Stadium. The Imps are midtable in League One and can put all their focus into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup match and a possible giant killing.
The Imps are unbeaten in six of their last seven games in all competitions. Manager Mark Kennedy’s team is in form and Southampton have to take Lincoln City seriously or they will be eliminated by the lower-league side.
Lincoln City reached the fourth round with wins over Doncaster Rovers, a draw with Barrow, and a win against Bristol City. The Imps will finally face a Premier League side and will relish the chance to play a top-tier team.
Southampton defeated Cambridge 3-0 before drawing 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday in the third round. A penalty shootout win against the Owls sent the Saints into the fourth round.
Jones has the chance to play a strong side after having four weeks off due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Premier League is still a week away from restarting. Jones won’t have Valentino Livramento, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Juan Larios due to injuries.
Lewis Montsma will miss the game for Lincon with a knee injury. Montsma is currently the only player listed as injured for Lincoln City. Ben House and Jack Diamond currently lead the team in goals with five apiece.
Southampton are winless in five straight games in all competitions. The change of managers to Jones hasn’t helped the cause and Tuesday night should see the Saints fail to win.
The fourth-round match between Southampton and Lincoln City should finish 1-1 with penalties needed to sort out which team progresses to the next phase. Southampton should be nervy against a lower-league team with nothing to lose.