We currently have seven players out on loan, all enjoying differing fortunes. In recent weeks, we've seen a handful return - Daniel Vanderpuye came back from Loughborough, while Jamie Pardington also returned from Oxford City. Noah Simmons, with first-team experience this season, moved to the seaside to help Skegness Town in their battle for a play-off spot in the United Counties League Premier Division North…

Six points separate Bolton Wanderers and us, and we have a chance to add to that gap if we win our game in hand. Even a win for them this weekend would be a blow, but would still leave matters in our hands. It's utter madness when you think about it. 18th in the budget table, Lincoln City have kept the pressure up on the division's elite, battering teams with three or four times the budget down the table, swatting them like flies.

Former Lincoln City player Alan Sheehan has been linked with the vacant manager’s role at League One side Wigan Athletic. Wigan, beaten 1-0 by the Imps last weekend, finally pulled the plug on Ryan Lowe’s reign after a disastrous 6-1 defeat by Peterborough United at the weekend. Lowe lasted 11 months, and the timing could work in City’s favour, with Stockport up next in a couple of weeks’ time.

Recently, I was introduced to this great stats app that compares players from across divisions, looking at their profiles and suggesting other players of the same profile. It's the same one Chris used when analysing Deji Elerewe after his move to City, and while it looks great for scouting, comparisons and the like, it can also be used for a bit of fun.

Tom Cleverley’s post-match reaction to our 4-1 win at Home Park was despondent, as they made it three without a win. Having recently rubbed shoulders with the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds United, they're now struggling to find a rhythm against Lincoln City. Yesterday, Cleverly felt a good start was undone by their own hand, rather than ours. "It was a strong performance first half, which has been quite consistent of us getting on the front foot and being really aggressive and intense," he said.

Yesterday was another big win for the Imps, four goals away from home at Home Park. It meant we cemented our place as the third-leading scorers in the division, one of only three sides with 50 or more goals. Remarkably, we do not have a single player on double figures, and only have two (Draper and Hackett) in the top 30 scorers.

It's just gone midnight, and I'm shattered. Over the last nine days, I have lost count of the miles I've done, for pleasure of course, but the one thing you'd expect me to do right now would be to come home, fall into my bed and sleep. Why is it that instead, I'm in front of my laptop, banging the keyboard with bleary eyes and a silent house all around?

The weather once again played its part across the county, with a number of local non-league fixtures falling victim to waterlogged pitches. Matches involving Blackstones v Harrowby United, Stamford AFC at Stratford, Pinchbeck United at Dronfield, and Lincoln United at Brighouse were all postponed. Boston United edge vital win In the games that did go ahead, Boston United were looking to put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season.

City remained six points clear in second with a resounding 4-1 victory at Home Park this afternoon, backed by a superb 600 travelling fans. It's a 600-mile round trip for many supporters, but they were vocal from start to finish. The home support numbered 15,000 and while they had plenty to say after Bim Pepple's opener, Freddie Draper soon had the minority singing loudest.

The Imps kept up the pressure at the top of the League One table with a resounding 4-1 victory at Home Park. Despite going 1-0 down after a strong start for the home side, City were dominant in the second half, ensuring we remain second in the table, and extending the gap between us and a couple of the chasing pack.

Michael Skubala has paid tribute to Lewis Montsma after the defender’s move to Scotland, reflecting on his impact at Lincoln City and explaining why the time was right for both player and club. Speaking ahead of the trip to Plymouth this weekend, the City head coach looked back on a spell that included standout performances, major injury setbacks, and a return defined by resilience rather than reward.

A slightly shorter Stacey West Podcast this evening, with a Plymouth preview, our late deadline day signing anlaysed and maybe some filler about Gary and Chris's trip to Germany. We're also talking about Kamil Conteh and where he fits in this season. Spotify – Apple – Acast –

Few expected Lincoln City to be in the picture for automatic promotion from League One. Some did predict the edge of the play-offs, but even me, in my rose-tinted glasses, saw 11th as being a big achievement. Knowing we're now 18th in the budget table, I'd have stuck by that, had the team not exploded into life over the last couple of months.

Deadline day fallout, managerial speculation shut down, injury concerns, and FA sanctions all feature in the latest round of League One headlines. With the transfer window now closed and attention turning back to the pitch, there has been no shortage of talking points across the division. Barnsley boss reacts to late transfer blow Barnsley FC were left weakened by a late deadline day departure, despite adding a replacement on loan.

Lincoln City head to Home Park on Saturday knowing Plymouth Argyle will be significantly weakened, particularly in defence, after fresh injury and suspension news emerged from the Pilgrims’ camp. The latest update from Devon is concerning for the home side, with several of Argyle’s key figures ruled out as we look to strengthen our position near the top of League One.

The Imps fixture against Cardiff City has been shifted to a 12:30 kick-off, in perhaps the least surprising news of the day. The good news is we do still play on the Saturday, meaning those planning a double header down in the South West won't be too disrupted. However, it is another early kick off, something becoming the norm for City, who haven't actually had a 3 pm Saturday kick off at home since November 29th.

Michael Skubala has confirmed that recently injured players have been training well ahead of our visit to Plymouth Argyle this weekend. A 600-mile round trip faces supporters, a trip that is being broken up for the players as they travel halfway today and the second part of the journey tomorrow. That travelling party includes returning players, such as Ben House and Tom Bayliss, who will expect to be involved from the bench at the very least.

City defender Adam Reach has been nominated for the January PFA League One Fans’ Player of the Month award after an impressive start to the year in red and white. Reach, who has already won Goal of the Month for December this season, enjoyed a productive January, finding the net twice with goals against Huddersfield Town and Peterborough United at the Bank.

Did anyone expect us to be in the top two heading into February? I didn't. Nobody did. Well, we are, and for the second month in a row, we kicked off against Huddersfield at home. This time it wasn't a defeat - we haven't tasted league defeat since November, a run that has seen us become firm favourites in the promotion push.

Referee: Stephen Martin Assistant Referees: Bhupinder Singh Gill, Lee Venamore Fourth Official: James Durkin I've moaned plenty about us getting referees up from the National League, but this weekend, we've got one coming down from the Championship. That's not in a relegation sense - he's a Championship referee who has officiated Preston and Hull, Oxford and Birmingham in his last two games.

Back in October 1982, things were looking good for the Imps ahead of a trip to Plymouth Argyle. We were top of the table and flying. Ironically, we were in the hunt for promotion to the Second Division alongside the likes of Cardiff and Bradford. However, we were in the ascendancy, and we went down to Devon knowing that whatever the outcome, we'd remain top of the table.

Former Lincoln City play-off finalist Callum Morton looks increasingly unlikely to remain with his current League Two club, with comments from Bristol Rovers’ Steve Evans casting doubt over his short-term future. The 26-year-old striker, who played a supporting role in our 2020–21 promotion push, is currently unattached beyond the end of the season and appears to be edging towards the exit door after falling down the pecking order.

With me being in Germany this weekend, there was no opportunity to update the player rater for Wigan Athletic. That meant you haven't been able to have your say on who did well against the Latics and who did not. I always want the Player of the Season numbers to be true, so for 24 hours, I am putting the rater up, so we can give a January Player of the Month.

It's an age-old question. The intention is always to go into a window and be stronger on the other side. However, defining stronger can be a challenge. The obvious perception is that in terms of numbers and cover, you want the same as you went in. Then, you want the players you have in the squad to be as good as the ones that went, or fill the required roles better than those who left.

Let’s be honest: when the fixtures list comes out in June, the first thing every Lincoln City fan does is look for the local derbies. Mansfield Town? 34 miles. Easy. A nice little jaunt down the road. But then your eyes drift down the list, and your heart sinks just a little bit. Plymouth Away this weekend. Exeter City away. Tuesday night.