Sunderland v Lincoln predictions: Black Cats should show plenty of fight

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sunderland v Lincoln City in the League One playoff semi-final second leg on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Football 3.30pm, Saturday

Best bet

Sunderland
2pts 19-20 Betfred, Hills

Team news

Sunderland
Conor McLaughlin (back) and Denver Hume (hamstring) have joined Dion Sanderson, Arbenit Xhemajli and Jordan Willis on the sidelines.

Lincoln
Adam Jackson was injured in the first leg and is unlikely to recover. Joe Walsh is also sidelined but Alex Palmer could return from a concussion layoff.

Match preview

Sunderland are one of many clubs who have struggled to adapt to empty stadiums but 10,000 fans will be in their corner for the League One playoff clash at home to Lincoln and that gives them a better chance of overturning a first-leg 2-0 deficit.

The last six weeks have been a massive disappointment for Sunderland, who took just six points from the final eight games of the regular season before suffering a potentially damaging defeat at Sincil Bank.

But Lee Johnson witnessed some positives from the midweek performance, which was probably worthy of a better outcome.

Sunderland won the shot count 18 to 14 and their opponents leaned heavily on the heroics of on loan Stoke goalkeeper Joe Bursik, who signed on a seven-day emergency deal just a day before the game.

Bursik may not feature in the return match because Lincoln's regular goalkeeper, West Brom loanee Alex Palmer, is expected to be available if he completes concussion protocols.

However, Lincoln are likely to be weakened in defence with seasoned centre-backs Adam Jackson and Joe Walsh expected to miss out.

Imps boss Michael Appleton is likely to deploy Lewis Montsma and Timothy Eyoma as his central defensive partnership, and while both have had plenty of exposure this season, they might struggle to cope with the occasion and the sheer power of Sunderland's 25-goal top scorer Charlie Wyke.

The combination play of classy winger Aidan McGeady and Wyke has been key to Sunderland's progress this season and if the duo are at their best, there is every possibility of a dramatic turnaround.

Key stat

Sunderland have not lost any of their last ten home games with fans in attendance.

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