Exeter City v Lincoln City: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Just five third-tier matches are taking place this weekend, including a key League One encounter between Exeter City and Lincoln City, who are hoping to make some headway in the promotion race.

Exeter are 11th after last Saturday’s 1-0 victory at home to Charlton, but they sit just two points outside of the top six and have played fewer games than most of the teams above them.

Fifth-placed Lincoln are three points better off having played one game more.

The Imps are unbeaten in their last three league matches but were left slightly disappointed last weekend after drawing 1-1 away to mid-table Bristol Rovers.

Exeter City v Lincoln City betting tips and predictions

Lincoln City to win - 17/10

Lincoln have sustained just two away defeats in 2024 and their road worthiness can continue with a victory over Exeter in south Devon.

There are some massive clubs in League One but Exeter and Lincoln have demonstrated that it remains possible to compete with fairly modest resources.

Exeter were promoted to League One in 2021/22 and have gone on to establish themselves as a progressive third-tier club.

The Grecians have recorded back-to-back mid-table finishes (14th and 13th) and are looking to ruffle a few feathers this season by mounting a play-off push.

Exeter head coach Gary Caldwell has assembled a squad with a nice mix of youth and experience but his team selection for the weekend is compromised by the absences of key duo Ilmari Niskanen and Josh Magennis, who are on international duty with Finland and Northern Ireland.

Both have been key contributors and 34-year-old Magennis rolled back the years on FA Cup first round weekend by bagging a hat-trick in a 5-3 extra-time success at home to Barnet.

Magennis is not usually a prolific scorer but he leads the line intelligently and provides much-needed leadership for an otherwise youthful group.

Exeter will do their best to adapt but they face a difficult task against a Lincoln side accustomed to taking points on their travels.

Lincoln went on an unbeaten away sequence of 15 games between a New Year’s Day 2-0 loss at Blackpool and last month’s 3-0 reverse at Crawley.

They are usually solid in defence and have shown their offensive skills in recent matches, winning 4-0 at Chesham in the FA Cup and 5-0 at home to Manchester City U21 in the EFL Trophy.

The Imps look like a side capable of staying in the promotion shake up and they can go fourth with a win this weekend.

Ben House anytime scorer - 11/4

Lincoln have been sharing the goals around the squad but Ben House has been an effective centre-forward, scoring four goals in 12 league appearances, and he looks a possible match-winner against Exeter.

The 25-year-old burst onto the scene in the 2022/23 campaign with 12 goals in 38 League One matches.

House experienced a lot of injury problems last term but he appears to be back to his best and looks a worthwhile 11/4 wager to add to his tally.

Millenic Alli to be booked - 11/2

Exeter believe in attacking and defending as a team and their strikers get through a lot of unselfish work.

Millenic Alli is a key man for the Grecians in terms of starting the press and he isn’t afraid to make a few tackles.

Alli has committed 33 fouls (the highest in the division) without being booked but his good fortune may be about to run out.

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Exeter City v Lincoln City odds

Exeter City - 8/5
Draw - 21/10
Lincoln City - 17/10

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.