Lincoln City vs Sunderland Predictions

• Sunderland have lost just three of their 23 away trips this term, winning 11.
• The Black Cats were resounding 0-4 winners when these sides met at LNER Stadium in December.
• That was one of nine defeats suffered by Lincoln here this season (W9, D5), with the Imps losing four of their last eight home starts.

Black Cats to come good at the right time

Lincoln have lost four of their last eight outings at LNER Stadium and the Imps look set to come up short when they face Sunderland in the League 1 Play-Off semi-final this Wednesday night.

That was certainly the case back in December when the Black Cats ran out emphatic 0-4 victors here, and overall, the visitors look a sound bet to establish a first leg advantage after winning 11 and losing just three of their 23 away trips this season.

City managed to earn a 1-1 draw when the sides last met at the Stadium of Light in late March, but their dismal recent home form can’t be overlooked going into this encounter, with Michael Appleton’s men losing four of their last eight (W2, D2) at the venue.

Sunderland did finish the regular campaign poorly with just one win from eight (D3, L4) which is an obvious concern, however, that success came at Plymouth (1-3) on their penultimate outing and Lee Johnson’s men are fancied to show their true form this week following a ten day break.

Their poor form is factored into their price, although Lincoln aren’t on the best of runs either based on those home efforts of late and just one win from their last five games overall. We expect Sunderland to rise to the occasion in this tie, and the Wearsiders can gain a vital first leg advantage via a 1-2 score-line.