Lincoln City stand on the periphery of history, with the Imps having their first opportunity to win promotion from League One to the Championship on Good Friday.
65 years have passed since Lincoln last played second-tier football, but that run could come to an end, depending on the results tomorrow afternoon.
Below, we detail what results are needed for the Imps to win promotion on Good Friday.
A Lincoln City Win
If the Imps are victorious over AFC Wimbledon, that is their part of the bargain complete, becoming the first side since Sheffield Wednesday in 22/23 to go half a season unbeaten. Incredibly, the Owls didn’t even win automatic promotion that season, but the Imps could do so depending on results at Home Park and Edgeley Park. Three points for Michael Skubala’s side would take them onto 87 points, meaning Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County would be the only sides capable of finishing ahead of the Lincolnshire outfit.
Strangely, Stockport start the day below Bradford City, but their game in hand means them and the Whites could still reach 87 points if they were to win all of their remaining matches. Of course, this is only possible for one of those sides, as they meet on Easter Monday. Prior to that, Bolton have a long journey to face Plymouth Argyle, while the Hatters host another play-off chasing side, Wycombe Wanderers.
The only way the Imps won’t be promoted with victory tomorrow afternoon is if one of the above-mentioned sides also win. So, if Lincoln win and both Stockport and Bolton drop points, the Imps will achieve the earliest promotion to the second-tier in terms of date post-WW2.
What About If Lincoln Draw?
If Johnnie Jackson’s side earn a point at Sincil Bank, then another side come into the equation: Bradford City. The Bantams have been excellent all season long, spending the entirety of the campaign in the top six places. This is the West Yorkshire outfit’s first season back in League One following their dramatic promotion last term. For their part in Lincoln winning promotion, Graham Alexander’s side would have to drop points at home to out-of-sorts Northampton Town.
That completes one third of the results needed away from Lincolnshire. In this scenario, Bolton and Stockport would both have to lose so that they couldn’t overhaul the Imps. Therefore, a point would be enough for Lincoln to mathematically confirm Championship football next season. This outcome feels fairly unlikely, given there are three results to rely on. Northampton lost every game in March, so the Cobblers holding a Bradford side so strong at Valley Parade would be a surprise outcome.
If the Dons spring a surprise and end Lincoln’s 22-match unbeaten run, promotion cannot be secured on Good Friday.
