The silent surge: Why aren't Lincoln City receiving the plaudits they duly deserve?

It has been 65 years since Lincoln City played in the second tier of English football, but they are now on the verge of reaching the Championship after a phenomenal season in League One.

With all of the attention on Arsenal's Premier League title bid, it seems that the Imps have gone unnoticed despite their sheer dominance in the third tier.

Only a decade ago, the club were pitting themselves against Guiseley, Southport and North Ferriby United in the National League, but next season they could be welcoming Tottenham.

With Lincoln just a handful of wins away from promotion, DAZN News analyses how England's most overlooked team got to this point.

Lincoln City on incredible League One run

Before the season began, recently relegated Cardiff City were overwhelming favourites to lift the title and make an instant return to the Championship.

Indeed, both of those outcomes may still come to fruition, but the Bluebirds are currently four points behind a team that is running away with the title in irresistible form.

Michael Skubala's side are perched comfortably at the top of the League One table with 80 points, while they have a remarkable 15-point cushion on Bolton Wanderers in third.

What makes the Imps even more impressive is their club-record run of 20 games without loss, having tasted victory in 16 of those outings.

How do the Imps compare to Europe and past champions?

With nine matches left of the season, it is not mathematically possible for Lincoln to break Birmingham City's League One record of 108 points last season.

The Blues managed to achieve promotion with six games to spare, but if the Imps win their next three and other results go their way, then they could reach the second tier with as many left to play.

To find a club that secured promotion from the third tier even quicker, you would have to go back to the 1966/67 campaign when QPR did it with seven matches left of the season.

This term, no side in England has embarked on a better run than Skubala's, and the only team that could trump them is Bromley, who have gone on a 19-match unbeaten run in League Two.

Furthermore, no team in the top two tiers of Spain, Italy, Germany or France have sustained an unbeaten run as long as Lincoln's this campaign.

Michael Skubala has made Lincoln clinical and resolute

While the Imps have been a solid League One outfit for several years, nobody was expecting them to be this far ahead at this stage of the season, so how did they get here?

The genius behind the Red Imps' recent surge is Skubala, who was appointed as the club's head coach in November 2023, marking his first permanent managerial post.

Skubala had been Leeds United's under-21 manager before accepting the job and did take charge of three first-team matches after Jesse Marsch was sacked, drawing one and losing two.

So, how has the Englishman made his team so formidable?

Not only have Lincoln conceded the fewest goals in the third tier, but their shot conversion rate of 15.13%, according to Opta, is the highest in the division, highlighting just how clinical they have been.

Getty Images

With a favourable run of three games against teams in the bottom half of the table, the Imps are odds on to achieve promotion with a record number of games to spare.

Not only that, but they will be hellbent on maintaining their outstanding unbeaten run, which could go down as the best in Europe this season if they can outlast Bromley's.

Of course, the true test will come next season when the Imps will assume the underdog status, but for now, let's give them the attention and recognition they deserve.

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