Jack Ross and the Black Cats will lock horns with Michael Appleton and the Imps this weekend.
Ahead of their League One meeting with Sunderland at home, Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton has spoken highly of the Black Cats, describing them as the biggest test in the division and singling out two players for praise (official Imps website).
Sunderland head to Sincil Bank at the weekend in good recent form, having beaten MK Dons 2-1 last weekend, while in midweek they claimed a second Premier League scalp in the League Cup as they defeated Sheffield United on their own turf.
Indeed, the Stadium of Light side is unbeaten in their last five in all competitions and as such their confidence is high going into the game against Lincoln as fifth in the League One table meets 11th – the first league clash between the two sides in almost 50 years.
“It’s important for ourselves to see how we can test ourselves against those sides, and there’s no bigger test than Saturday,” Appleton told the Lincoln website. “I think the game will be very difficult. They’re a team that have some very good individuals, both defensively and attacking wise.
“There’s one I know very well in Chris Maguire, who I have signed a couple of times already. The likes of (Luke) O’Nien also who is on decent scoring form too. They will provide us with different threats at different stages of the game.”
Lincoln have been on an upward trajectory for the past three years as they rose from non-league to the third tier of English football, lifting the National League Title, the EFL Trophy and the League Two title.
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