The Imps are back at the LNER Stadium on Saturday 21 December when they welcome Reading in Sky Bet League One (12.30pm KO).

Read up on the words of head coach Michael Skubala and skipper Paudie O’Connor, and catch up on vital match information in this preview.

Skubala’s thoughts:

“We’ve been in the last few games, but we’ve just not tipped those into wins. The league’s tougher than last year in terms of the quality of clubs and size of the clubs - so I think we’re in a similar position to last year. We just need to keep going and go after the wins and try and pick up some more points through the Christmas period. It’s going to be a tough but important challenge.

“Every game is an ideal time to try and start building some momentum, but what we do is attack every game and try and get results out of every game and that’s going to be the challenge. Reading are here on Saturday, and they may have had their problems off the pitch but they’re still a big club with a big budget. They’ve got some really good players.

“There are slight changes since the new manager came in, which is a challenge, but we’re just trying to go through that in training. They’re in a lot of games, similarly to ourselves, their front-line is a real threat.”

O’Connor’s take:

“We’re looking forward to Saturday especially after the first-half performance against Huddersfield, there was a lot to take from it and a lot of good points. We just need to take that into a full 90 minutes to get the three points - we’ve been close to it the last few games but we’re looking to get maximum points to get us going into this Christmas period.

“We mixed it up well against Huddersfield, we played through the thirds, switched the ball, created a lot of chances and had them on the back foot. We dug in in the second half and limited them to very few chances but it was a ricochet in the box and it fell to them, but we just want to take that first 45 into a full 90 on Saturday.

“We’ve looked into a few areas where we can hurt Reading on Saturday, and if we can kick-start the festive period with three points going into Shrewsbury on Boxing Day then it gives us a good chance to put a positive run of results together.”

A look at the opposition:

It’s been a turbulent couple of seasons for Reading off the pitch, but they still find themselves firmly in the play-off picture as the first half of the season starts to come to a close.

Sitting 6th with 31 points from 19 games, the Royals’ home form has caught the eye, winning seven of their nine fixtures at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Their most recent game on their own patch ended in defeat however as Blackpool inflicted a first loss on Reading since Ruben Selles moved on to manage Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship.

They have been less successful away from home this season, but have turned it around of late, picking up great points at Barnsley and Wycombe Wanderers while also claiming a confidence-boosting victory at Peterborough United.

The last time the two sides met at the LNER Stadium, a second-half equaliser cancelled out the Imps’ early opener as the teams shared the spoils.

Top scorer: Sam Smith (7 goals)
League form: WDWDL

Match information:

City will play in their traditional red and white stripes in Saturday’s early kick-off, and you can get yours HERE.

Adam Herczeg will be the match referee, and he will be supported by his assistants Callum Gough and Alistair Nelson. Jamie O’Connor is the fourth official.

Pepsico will be the matchball sponsors for the game, with AMS Build sponsoring the Man of the Match.

Purchase your ticket HERE!