Southampton can hit automatic-promotion pace by beating newly promoted Lincoln City | OneFootball

Southampton have begun the Championship briskly despite a four-point deduction, and a win at Lincoln City could set automatic-promotion tempo. They have seven points from a possible 12.

According to Sainstmarching.com, those returns already eclipse last season’s haul from comparable fixtures against Watford, Stoke City, Millwall and Birmingham City, when they managed three. They would be fourth after four games without the penalty.

A visit to Sincil Bank Stadium now awaits, with the clubs last sharing a division in the 1960s. The Imps will chase an upset, while it is a chance for Tonda Eckert’s Saints to click.

Last season’s League One winners, Lincoln triumphed with one of the lowest budgets and, under Michael Skubala, the league’s lowest average possession. Skubala, an ex-PE teacher, has departed for Bristol City, with Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw installed as co-head coaches.

Lincoln have started steadily given their resources, sitting one place above Southampton in 17th after a win and a draw. The home crowd will fancy Saturday lunchtime for a shock.

If Southampton win, their points-per-game would be 2.0 after five outings, a marker for the automatics despite not topping the table yet. It is an opportunity to underline their status among the sides to beat.

With the first Championship double gameweek of the season here, rotation could help again. Divin Mubama, Lewis Dobbin, James Ward-Prowse and new signing Zach Abbott could be useful options in a game they should target.

Three points could put them within early play-off range. That would represent a strong opening for a campaign that began from behind.

Source: Sainstmarching.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”