James Heneghan's Northampton Town v Lincoln City preview

Date/time: Saturday, December 19, 3pm kick-off

Venue: PTS Academy Stadium

Forecast: 10C, cloudy

Outs and doubts: Cobblers: Joseph Mills, Joe Nuttall, Scott Pollock, Joe Martin, Shaun McWilliams, Jack Sowerby, Alan Sheehan, Luka Racic. Lincoln: Callum Morton, Liam Bridcutt, Conor McGrandles, Adam Jackson

Betting: Northampton 11/4, draw 23/10, Lincoln 19/20

Form guide: Cobblers LLWLWD, Imps LLWWWL

Current league positions: 20th v 4th

Possible line-ups: Northampton (4-4-2): Arnold; Harriman, Bolger, Horsfall, Hoskins; Adams, Missilou, Watson, Holmes; Ashley-Seal, Smith. Lincoln (4-3-3): Palmer; Eyoma, Montsma, Walsh, Edun; Gotts, Jones, Grant; Anderson, Hopper, Johnson

Man in the middle: Robert Lewis

Last time out: Oxford 4 Northampton 0; Lincoln 0 Shrewsbury 1

Most recent meeting: Saturday, February 9, 2019 - Lincoln 1 (Andrade) Northampton 1 (Pierre)

Record v Lincoln: P55 W15 D25 L15

James Heneghan's preview: If there was ever a time for Keith Curle to pull another rabbit out of his hat, tomorrow's visit of high-flying Lincoln City would surely be it.

The Town boss has developed a handy knack of picking up results just when he most needs them but rarely has the pressure - on both him and the team - been as great as it is at the present moment.

The reason we have reached such a critical and perhaps defining stage of Town's season is due to that dreaded triple combination of a poor results, worsening performances and a league position that is trending in the wrong direction, even if they do currently remain outside the bottom four.

What will be of particular concern for supporters, not to mention Curle himself, is how the Cobblers have been so thoroughly outplayed by teams around them in the table. Crewe Alexandra are newly-promoted into this division while Oxford sat below them and were on a run of no win in six before Tuesday's encounter.

Yet, whilst Crewe's eventual win came deep into stoppage-time, Town were a distant second best on both occasions. After Ricky Holmes' early opener at Gresty Road, they did not lay a glove on their opponents across the next 177 minutes of football.

And now you look at their upcoming run of fixtures over the festive period and fear the worst. Saturday's opponents Lincoln are currently flying high in fourth before Town head to fifth-placed Ipswich Town on Boxing Day. Sunderland's visit to the PTS in the New Year hardly looks appetising either.

On the up side, Lincoln aren't in sparkling form themselves having lost their last two, although Michael Appleton's side have so far defied pre-season expectations to mix it with the likes of Hull City and Charlton Athletic at the top of League One.

The Imps, of course, pipped Northampton to the loan signing of Callum Morton but the young Baggies striker will not be scoring against his old club - or anyone else for some time - due to a serious shoulder injury. He is not expected to return until February.

But although Appleton does have a few other injury concerns, his absentee list can't match Curle's. Town are again without Shaun McWilliams and Joe Martin due to suspension this weekend while Alan Sheehan, a big miss of late, and Jack Sowerby, who limped off in midweek, are doubts. Cian Bolger does at least return.

After Curle vented his anger after Tuesday's limp display, it will be interesting to see how his players respond because whilst this is undoubtedly a big game for the Cobblers, it's arguably an even bigger game for the manager. A reaction is required.

Prediction: Northampton Town 1 Lincoln City 2