Nathan Jones will take charge of Southampton for the first time on Tuesday, as the Saints take on Lincoln City in the round of 16 of the EFL Cup. The Imps will be looking to cause a shock victory, but the pressure will immediate be on Jones to hit the ground running at St Mary’s.
EFL Cup Preview
There will be a new era at St Mary’s getting underway on Tuesday, as Ralph Hassenhuttl was dismissed by Southampton during the international break. Premier League survival will ultimately be the big goal for Nathan Jones following his appointment, but he will be keen to hit the ground running with the Saints when they take on Lincoln City in the round of 16 of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
The Saints entered the EFL Cup in the second round, as they breezed past Cambridge United with a 3-0 victory on the road. It was a slightly more tense fixture in the third round, as they needed a penalty shootout to get over the line against Sheffield Wednesday. The sides were locked level at 1-1, before the Saints won 6-5 from the spot.
Lincoln City should be sharper than their Premier League rivals coming into this fixture, as they have already resumed their League One campaign. The Imps come into this fixture sitting 14th in League One, but they have claimed just six victories from 20 games this term.
Lincoln is also winless in their previous two games after being held to a 0-0 draw against Wycombe in their previous fixture. However, they have shown excellent form of the road throughout their run in the EFL Cup, as they have already beaten Doncaster, Barrow and Bristol City on the road in the competition this term.
Southampton vs Lincoln City Head to Head
This will be the first meeting between these teams since November 1996. Southampton were 3-1 winners in that fixture, and they are unbeaten in their previous five matches against The Imps, with two of their previous three wins coming in the League Cup.
Southampton vs Lincoln City Prediction
The pressure will be on Jones, as he takes charge of the Saints for the first time this week. However, we expect Southampton to have enough quality across the pitch to pick up the victory that they need.
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