Credit Graham Burrell
Huddersfield Town always seem to operate on a slightly higher financial plane, a club with deeper pockets and a touch more luxury than us.
Let’s be honest; they’re a bigger club. That’s not said in a jealous, bitchy way, not through gritted teeth. They’re bigger than us, and that is an undeniable fact. That dynamic often creates the sense that they are punching down without even realising it. This evening’s meeting, however, feels intriguing for several reasons.
We do not have a league game on Saturday, while Huddersfield do. The competition matters to City because it brings prize money and the genuine hope of a Wembley run, but also a chance to give some fringe players minutes. In recent rounds, Michael Skubala has rotated heavily, including an almost entirely changed side against Barnsley, but a repeat feels unlikely with a free weekend ahead.
Huddersfield’s approach hints at something similar. When they needed to progress against Mansfield, they fielded a strong side and won 3-1, despite also facing a tight schedule. Even their rotated selections have been powerful. A win over Newcastle United under-21s was achieved with a squad that would still challenge the top ten of League One.
Their depth is remarkable. Players with only a handful of league starts include Jack Whatmough, Murray Wallace, Joe Taylor, Sean Roughan, Bojan Radulovic, David Kasumu, Herbie Kane, Lyndon Gooch and Will Alves. Some are injured, some have been on the fringes, but if Huddersfield rotate, it will not look like a reserve side to anyone watching.
Skubala’s decisions are shaped by the blank weekend. Zack Jeacock is likely to start in goal, and changes will only come where absolutely required. A 4-2-3-1 shape still seems the most probable. For me, I’d go like this.
Credit Graham Burrell
Lincoln City Starting XI
In goal Zach Jeacock. He did the pre-match presser, and let’s be honest, he is the only absolute in the side. He will start tonight, you can put your house on it.
Across the back four, I’d go Lembikisa, Reach, Hamer and Towler. I think Towler is another who is nailed on, but if we’re going to get at the Terriers, let’s do it with Adam Reach and Lembikisa, asking questions of their full-backs. Lee Grant tends to play four at the back, and so we could well be like-for-like. Let’s make sure it’s our defenders asking their defenders the questions.
In midfield, I think Ivan Varfolomeev is nailed on to start, and I’d have Tom Bayliss next to him. That’s a big midfield, a club record signing and a trusted first team player, and it would set the tone for the battle in that part of the park. They can roll out big guns without thinking, but we’re in a position where strength can be met with strength. To sit McGrandles and Ivan side-by-side wouldn’t make as much sense, as they’re very similar players.
Credit Graham Burrell
Across the three behind the striker, I want us to feel strong. Erik Ring will almost certainly play, and here’s the thing – I think he’s really good. He’s been in and out of the side, yeah? Patchy, some might say. Well, he already has four goal involvements this season, a strike against Salford and goals or assists in all three of our EFL Trophy matches. He’s a firework waiting to go off, I’m telling you. In fact, did you know that in his short time in England, he has ten goal involvements? That’s five goals and five assists. He averages a goal involvement every 201 minutes or so, which is more than several big names (Reeco Hackett, 355 minutes in 24/25, Bruno Andrade, 226 minutes in 2018/19 and Brennan Johnson, 231 minutes, 2020/21).
Just saying.
I’d have Ben House in, because he’s the type of player perfectly suited to helping you beat Huddersfield Town, a hard worker who will not let them settle. In my Patreon video, I then had Rob Street in as well, on the right, which makes me a huge hypocrite, but I’ll stand by that. I want to see him as a nine, and I suspect next week against Barnsley, we might, but for today, I’ll have him wide right.
That leaves the number nine position. James Collins, please. They’ll roll out their perceived big hitters, so let’s get as many of ours on the pitch as we can. They got Dion Charles scoring by him netting in this competition a few weeks ago, let’s see if we can’t do the same with our talisman.
Credit Graham Burrell
Lincoln City Depth
Lincoln’s depth mirrors Huddersfield’s in its own way. A core group of sixteen or seventeen players have carried the load this season and most of them should appear again rather than those with only a small handful of matches.
Predicting the full eleven remains difficult, but what is clear is that this fixture will not resemble the cautious undercards seen in early rounds of the competition. Both clubs are likely to field sides close to League One strength. Huddersfield’s size should draw a larger crowd than usual for this stage, and the lack of a Saturday fixture could also encourage more Lincoln supporters to attend. Over 3,000 wouldn’t be a huge surprise, which is crazy when you think 5,718 was a BIG crowd when we beat them 3-1 back in 2004.
The attendance will still be smaller than a 2025 league match, but the quality on the pitch should be close to that level. It promises a compelling evening and a rare opportunity to see both clubs take the competition seriously, knowing that progression could lead to something memorable.
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