City stole a 2-1 win against Doncaster a few days ago, putting us into the automatic promotion spaces. Robbie Gotts, who scored the own goal for our win, is a former Imp. He featured during the 2020/21 season, even scoring as we beat Accrington en route to the EFL Trophy semi-final. However, he hadn't got a league goal at Sincil Bank, until his unfortunate moment.

Number 21 on our list takes us back to a more successful chapter in Lincoln City’s post-war history and to a striker whose scoring touch helped define one of our finest seasons in the Second Division. This ongoing countdown celebrates the most prolific Lincoln City strikers from 1945 onwards, ranked by goals per game in EFL competition and featuring only players with at least 25 league appearances.

With a third of the season now in the bank, the Imps sit second in the table, level on points with Stockport County, who are top. At times, we've been really good (Luton, for instance). At times, we've stumbled a little (Orient), and recently, we've been grinding. We ground out a win yesterday, and we were ground down ourselves a week ago.

Former Lincoln City defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy is now being lined up by Inter as a potential replacement for struggling Luis Henrique, according to reports in Italy. He's already been linked with Juventus, and more recently Napoli, but it's now reported that table-topping Inter want the 21-year-old, who has come a long way since joining us on loan back in January 2022.

Whenever a Championship job comes up, teams in League One who are doing well panic a bit. The thought is this: will our manager get a call? It happened a lot with Danny and Nicky; we feared calls from Sheff Weds and Ipswich, and eventually got one from Huddersfield. Last season, Wycombe's run to promotion was seemingly derailed when Matt Bloomfield left, while at one stage, Michael Appleton was linked with West Brom.

Number 22 on our countdown brings us to a player who perhaps never fully got the credit he deserved at Sincil Bank, but whose record stands up to scrutiny all these years later. For those joining us partway through, this feature celebrates Lincoln City’s most prolific strikers from 1945 onwards, ranked purely on goals per game in EFL competition. Each player has made at least 25 appearances, ensuring every inclusion reflects a meaningful contribution in red and white.

Okay, it's joint top, but if we were here at the end of the season, we'd still go up. Will we be here at the end of the season? There is a lot of football to be played, but with more than a third of the campaign gone, we're in a good place. Our win against Doncaster Rovers pushed us above teams who were not playing, points on the board rather than games in hand, and that is important.

Michael Skubala was rightfully delighted to pick up three points against Doncaster Rovers yesterday. A first-half strike from Frankie Okoronkwo put the Imps ahead, before Brandon Hanlan levelled with 20 minutes to go. City struck back immediately, going 2-1 up within a minute through an own goal from former Imp, Robbie Gotts. It was an entertaining game, full of incident against a decent Rovers side, and Michael was happy to see out the result after some late pressure.

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann arrived at Sincil Bank talking about belief, bravery and grit, but left pointing fingers at softness and handbrakes. Our win over Doncaster should have been remembered for Frankie Okoronkwo’s header and the decisive chaos that followed a long throw, yet McCann’s reaction told its own story about a side sliding through a nine-game League One winless run.

City youngster Oisin Gallagher has returned to National League side Boston United on loan until January.  The 20-year-old caught the eye after starting in Tuesday’s Vertu Trophy win at Barnsley, starting the match at centre-back before moving into central midfield. It was his first appearance since returning from injury, and he rejoins Graham Couhlan's side firmly wedged in mid-table in the fifth tier.

I watched our last home win against Doncaster Rovers through the eye of an 18-year-old excitedly waiting for his birthday the next day. That game was turgid, punctuated by a couple of moments on which the game turned. Thirty years later, through the slightly tired eyes of a 46-year-old approaching a birthday with caution and a lack of excitement, I watched the next home win against Doncaster, a game won and lost on moments.

This weekend's game feels important. Results have not always gone our way recently, and there has been a fair bit of travel, but the performances at home before the run of away fixtures showed all the signs of a side that is more than competitive. City dominated Exeter, City outplayed Stevenage, and once the squad gets back into the home rhythm, there is every reason to believe that the Imps can put together another strong showing.

October’s League One awards offered a clear picture of the strength Lincoln City must navigate this season, with Stockport County manager Dave Challinor and Bolton Wanderers winger Amario Cozier-Duberry taking the division’s main honours.  Challinor collected the Manager of the Month award after guiding Stockport to a perfect run of four wins, three clean sheets and a move to the top of League One.

As we head into the weekend, here are the headlines currently circulating around League One.  Lyons Returns To Lead Northampton Town Academy Northampton Town have confirmed the appointment of Mark Lyons as the club’s academy manager, bringing him back to Sixfields after a successful spell in the Leicester City academy structure. Lyons previously worked for the Cobblers as lead youth development phase coach and lead professional development phase coach before moving to a category one set up with Leicester, where he has spent the last seven years.

The latest League Two monthly awards offered a notable connection to Lincoln City, with several former Imps involved in the nominations. October proved to be a significant period for clubs across the division, and the shortlist reflected a number of individuals who previously spent formative periods at Sincil Bank. Their presence in the nominations and in the final list of winners highlighted how many familiar names remain active and influential at this level.

Doncaster Rovers man Jordan Gibson believes his side are one win away from a run ahead of their trip to the Bank tomorrow. Doncaster arrive without a league win in nine, although their midweek comeback in the EFL Trophy has clearly stiffened their resolve. With Rovers not having lost at the Bank since 1997, history does appear to be on their side.

Justin Obikwu's Trinidad and Tobago were eliminated from World Cup qualification last night, while Dexter Lembikisa sees his hopes of travelling hanging in the balance. Trinidad and Jamaica met in a must-win game for the former, while the Reggae Boyz were relying on results elsewhere, giving them a hand. The first half drifted by without much drama, yet the visitors struck early in the second period when Renaldo Cephas timed his run perfectly, cut inside from the left, and rolled a cool finish into the bottom corner.

It's been 28 years and five matches since the Imps have beaten Doncaster on home soil. In November 1997, we edged out bottom-side Rovers at Sincil Bank in a tense League Division 3 encounter decided by a trio of headers and a late defensive stand. It was a night that summed up John Beck’s pragmatic 1997 side: efficient, organised, and relentless rather than spectacular, but good enough to extend an unbeaten run to thirteen matches and climb within touching distance of the division’s summit.

Former City loanee Brooke Norton Cuffy’s progress in Italy has drawn fresh attention from some of Serie A’s biggest clubs, fresh on the back of Juventus speculation. Brooke spent part of the 2021-22 season with the Imps, making a handful of senior appearances that helped launch his professional pathway before returning to Arsenal. Since leaving England permanently, he has continued to climb, and reports in Italy say interest around him is increasing again.

There was no doubting Imps fans got value for money early doors. 3-2 against Plymouth, 2-2 against Wigan, and 2-0 against Reading all had goals. We had red cards, chances, and so much more. However, that has died off a little of late, and recently, we've had tight affairs, such as Exeter and Stevenage, more akin to the Kennedy era.

Number 23 on our list caused quite the stir when he arrived in 2008. Before we go on, this is a list of the most prolific Lincoln City strikers from 1945 onwards. EFL appearances and goals only Ranked on Goals Per Game Must have appeared 25 times or more We've already had a couple, and now for one of the more recent entries.

Michael Skubala has outlined the challenge of managing returning players ahead of the weekend's clash with Doncaster. City are looking for their first win at the Bank against Rovers since 1997, and with the rest of the top six not in action, we could jump up the table. A win could leave us top of the table coming out of the international break, no mean feat given our recent sticky patch.

Michael Skubala has suggested Oisin Gallagher will be heading out on loan after he bounced back into action this week. Oisin turned in a strong performance against Barnsley in the EFL Trophy, returning from a lay-off stretching back to his time on loan at Boston United. The talented 20-year-old is now expected to head back out on loan, sooner rather than later.

The Imps will face Huddersfield Town in the next round of the EFL Trophy. Thanks to a really odd draw process, we could only face one of four clubs, and we've drawn the hardest of the lot. Huddersfield lost 1-0 to Harrogate, which cost them their place at the top of the group, but with a 6-2 win against Newcastle United Under-21s, they proved their strength and depth.

Theo Archibald has signed a short-term contract with Leyton Orient that keeps him at Brisbane Road until the end of the season, bringing him back into first-team registration after a long period on the sidelines. The winger, who previously spent time with us at City before moving to Orient in 2021, has been out of competitive action since February 2024 because of a persistent knee injury.