Read our Preston vs Lincoln prediction with expert betting tips, lineups, and the latest odds ahead of this English Championship clash at Deepdale.
Preston vs Lincoln Match Summary
Competition | English Championship |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 12 September 2026 |
Match Time | 15:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Deepdale, Preston |
This is a scrap between two sides in very different moods, and any Preston vs Lincoln prediction has to start with the mess at the bottom of the Championship table.
Preston sit 24th and rock bottom, propping up the table with just three points from their opening six fixtures. Deepdale has not been a happy place lately, and the pressure is building.
Lincoln, newly promoted, arrive 19th with five points banked. The Imps have settled into life at this level far more comfortably than their hosts and travel with a bit of belief.
With Preston losing six of their last seven in the Championship, the visitors will fancy their chances of leaving Deepdale with something on Saturday.
Preston vs Lincoln Form
Preston are in a genuine rut, having lost six of their last seven in the Championship. They raced into an early lead at Watford on 8 September through Callum Lang, only to lose 2-1, a fifth defeat of the campaign. Worryingly, they have conceded at least two goals in eight of their last ten league outings, so the defence needs sorting fast.
Lincoln are more settled since promotion. They held Southampton to a 1-1 home draw on 5 September, with Mikkel Ladefoged equalising, before their Carabao Cup run ended in a 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth on 8 September. That result ended a four-match unbeaten run across all competitions, and there have been under 2.5 goals in each of their last three league games.
Preston vs Lincoln Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Preston: B. Potts (Injured/out), A. McCann (Injured/out), A. Hughes (Injured/doubtful), A. Vukcevic (Injured/doubtful)
Lincoln: T. Darikwa (Injured/out), T. Hamer (Injured/out), M. Melia (Injured/doubtful)
Preston
Andrija Vukcevic was struggling with a back injury in midweek and is heavily doubtful, with Caleb Wiley expected to come into the starting XI in his place. Stan Mills could also be recalled on the other side of the midfield five for the home side.
Lincoln
Mason Melia is nursing a minor knock and could miss the trip to Deepdale. After the Carabao Cup defeat in midweek, only Reeco Hackett, Ryley Towler and Mikkel Ladefoged look likely to keep their places for the visitors.
Preston vs Lincoln Predicted Lineup
Preston
Formation: 3-5-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Iversen; Storey, Gibson, Offiah; Wiley, Devine, Thompson, Leroy, Mills; Lang, Kenny
Lincoln
Formation: 3-4-3
Predicted Starting Lineup: Wickens; Bradley, Towler, Elerewe; Reach, McGrandles, Varfolomeev, Coubis; Hackett, House, Ladefoged
Preston vs Lincoln Key Stats & Match Facts
Preston have lost six of their last seven matches in the Championship.
There have been over 2.5 goals in eight of Preston's last nine Championship games.
Preston have conceded at least two goals in eight of their last ten Championship matches.
There have been under 2.5 goals in Lincoln City's last three Championship games.
Conor McGrandles has been carded in three of his last three Championship appearances.
Preston vs Lincoln Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: This one looks tight. The numbers just about edge it towards the hosts, but with Preston's defence leaking and Lincoln settled, a 1-1 draw feels right at Deepdale. Neither side has the reliability to be trusted here.
Best Bets
Leo Leroy to record over 0.5 shots on target in Player Shots On Target. Leroy carries a 43.6% predicted probability of registering at least one shot on target, and with Preston set up as home favourites who take plenty of shots from midfield, this looks a strong value angle from the engine room.
Conor McGrandles to be shown a card in To Be Shown A Card. The combative Lincoln midfielder has been carded in three of his last three Championship appearances, and with both sides profiling as aggressive, a 33.08% booking probability makes him a live candidate for the referee's notebook.
Preston vs Lincoln Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder backs Lincoln in the Win Market, Callum Lang as an anytime goalscorer, Conor McGrandles to be carded, and over 2.5 total away team cards.
Lincoln to win makes sense given Preston have lost five of their last six in the Championship, and the newly promoted Imps have looked the more settled outfit heading into this one.
Callum Lang to score is well founded, with the forward having netted in two of his last three Championship appearances, including that early opener at Watford.
McGrandles to be carded is a strong angle, the midfielder having picked up a booking in each of his last three Championship outings for a combative side.
Over 2.5 away team cards leans on Lincoln's disciplinary record, with McGrandles and Ivan Varfolomeev, carded in two of his last three, both regular offenders.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 103/1 and is as short as 66/1 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Preston vs Lincoln Talking Points
The big question is whether Preston can finally shore up a defence that has conceded two or more in eight of their last ten Championship games. Paul Heckingbottom is chasing stability, and the numbers make grim reading for the bottom side. Lincoln, guided by the joint head coaching partnership of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, arrive full of confidence after a solid start to life in the Championship, though their heavy Carabao Cup exit at Bournemouth is a reminder of the gap to the top. Up front, Callum Lang carries Preston's hopes, having scored three goals across his previous two appearances, but he will need more support than he got at Vicarage Road.
Preston vs Lincoln Predictions FAQs
When is the Preston vs Lincoln English Championship game?
The match kicks off on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 15:00 UK time.
Where is Preston vs Lincoln being played?
Preston vs Lincoln is being played at Deepdale.
What competition is Preston vs Lincoln in?
The fixture is being played in the English Championship.
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