Lincoln are unbeaten in their last 30 matches
Middlesbrough have won only two of their last 10 league fixtures
Recommended bet: Draw or Lincoln double chance at 47/20 with LiveScore Bet
Middlesbrough have had less than three months to digest their humbling by Hull in the 2025-26 Championship play-off final but they have an opportunity to start the healing process when taking on newly-promoted Lincoln at the Riverside Stadium.
Several clubs have struggled to bounce back after unsuccessful promotion challenges and Boro’s mental state could be especially fragile after they became the first team to lose two play-off ties in the same season.
Head coach Kim Hellberg remains in the Boro dugout and oversaw a small step forward last Friday when his team triumphed 1-0 at home to Wrexham in the Carabao Cup first round.
Lincoln were forced into an unwanted managerial change when Michael Skubala, the architect of last season’s League One title triumph, agreed on a switch to Bristol City.
However, the Imps — under the dual management team of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw — are heading to Teesside in high spirits after starting their competitive campaign with a 2-1 Carabao Cup success away at Derby.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Lincoln odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Boro may stick with largely the same side and will have to be patient with centre-back Alfie Jones, who is short of match fitness having recently recovered from a muscle strain.
Tom Bayliss (unspecified injury) and Sonny Bradley (knee) are absent for Lincoln, who may persist with Rob Street and Freddie Draper as a front two.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Lincoln odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The stats
Five of Middlesbrough’s last nine league games have seen the points shared.
Boro have scored fewer than two goals in nine of their last 10 home fixtures.
Five of Boro’s last seven league matches have featured goals for both teams.
Lincoln have started the scoring in eight of their last nine matches.
The Imps have won 14 of their last 16 fixtures.
Lincoln have scored at least two goals in seven consecutive games.
The latest Middlesbrough vs Lincoln odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Lincoln have not lost a competitive match in 2026 and their stunning unbeaten sequence can extend to 31 games with the acquisition of a point or better at the Riverside Stadium.
Shaking off the play-off hangover could be a tough gig for Middlesbrough, who are facing the added inconvenience of trying to find a replacement for departed midfielder Hayden Hackney.
Boro have been active in the market and were boosted by a goalscoring debut for big-money signing Will Lankshear, who netted the only goal of the Carabao Cup win over Wrexham.
But they were far from free-flowing against the Red Dragons and are at risk of dropping points to the Imps, who could make a bold impression in their first second-tier fixture since 1961.
Score prediction: Middlesbrough 1-1 Lincoln
Back Draw or Lincoln double chance, available at 47/20 with LiveScore Bet
