Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton already knows his side for the Sky Bet League One play-off first leg against Sunderland.
The Imps finished fifth in the League on 77 points – the same amount as their play-off rivals Sunderland. Their clash will take place on May 19, 2021 at 6pm at the LNER Stadium. The reverse fixture will happen at the Stadium of Light on May 22, 2021 at the same time.
“Hopefully we can get a good week of training under our belt and look forward to a good game at our place against Sunderland,” Appleton said.
“I have an idea of the team to face them, but I have been known to change my mind on team selections based on things I see in training.
“We look forward to it because we’ve had three different games against them this season. In one we were turned over, then we had two hard-fought games up there where we played well.”
Also going head-to-head in the play-offs the day before are Oxford United and Blackpool. The winner from those two games, over the two legs, will face off at Wembley at the end of the month for a place in the Championship next season.
The winner will join League One champions Hull City and promoted Peterborough United in England’s second division next season.
Leaving the division down are Rochdale, Northampton Town, Swindon Town and Bristol Rovers.
Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United and Bolton Wanderers have been promoted from League Two while Morecambe, Newport County, Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers will battle it out in the play-offs for that final promotion place.
One team spending another term in League One is Doncaster Rovers, who last weekend said goodbye to their longest-serving player, James Coppinger, after 17-years at the South Yorkshire club.
“The messages I have had have been unbelievable, and it means everything to me. I know people couldn’t be here to see my final game, but this has been my life for so long and it means so much to me to get so much support,” Coppinger said as he fought back his tears.
“To make my Premier League debut under Bobby Robson (at Newcastle) and 19 and to come here for 17-years, get three promotions, win at Wembley and the Millennium Stadium, score hattricks, I cannot not be prouder.
“It’s been an unbelievable career.”
Wycombe Wanderers, Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday will feature in League One next season after relegation from the Championship.
