Saturday Match File ... a focus on high-flying opposition as Lee Clark takes charge of a Rotherham United match for the first time

They were comfortable 3-0 victors over the Imps on November when the sides met at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

However, City have gone on to climb into pole position while the Millers have slipped into the bottom four and have nine matches left in which to come up with a survival solution.

Clark, who was appointed on Wednesday following the sacking of Matt Hamshaw, is adopting a positive approach to the opening match of his reign.

“Lincoln are deserved leaders of the division but we're going there to win,” he declared after meeting the squad for the first time and overseeing training on Thursday. “I have lots of belief in the players. They had a little bit of a spring in their step today.”

City racked up their 10th win in their last 11 outings against Stockport County last Saturday and have been defeated only once in third-tier combat - at Wycombe Wanderers - since their setback in S60.

Rotherham haven't lost at Sincil Bank for six years but achieving a result against opposition who are 15 points clear of third place is a huge task.

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One to watch

Teen striker Ryan One was a loan target for Rotherham during the January transfer window but the 19-year-old moved from Sheffield United to Lincoln until the end of the season instead. The Scotland under-21 international, who has Premier League and Championship experience with the Blades, has hit the target three times in eight outings for the Imps.

Form guide

Lincoln: WWWWWD

City followed up a midweek 1-0 away win at Exeter City with a 3-1 home triumph over Stockport last Saturday and then fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

Millers: LWDLDL

In 106 contests between the clubs since 1920, Rotherham have 54 wins and Lincoln have triumphed 28 times.

Past meetings

Nov 8 2025, League One: Millers 3 Lincoln 0

Reece James, Ar'Jany Martha, Denzel Hall

Jan 1 2025, League One: Lincoln 0 Millers 1

Joe Powell

Dec 3 2024, League One: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Sam Nombe, Sean Raggett

Mar 15 2022, League One: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Ben Wiles, Chiedozie Ogbene

Sep 14 2021, League One: Lincoln 1 Millers 1

Michael Smith

Feb 7 2020, League One: Lincoln 0 Millers 1

Matt Crooks

Nov 12 2019, Football League Trophy: Lincoln 3 Millers 0

Aug 10 2019, League One: Millers 0 Lincoln 2

Aug 8 2017, League Cup: Millers 2 Lincoln 1

Jamie Proctor, Anthony Forde

Last clash

Rotherham gave one of their best displays of the season in early November against an Imps side that were already among the division's pace-setters. First-half strikes from Reece James and Ar'Jany Martha put the Millers in control and Denzel Hall sealed a 3-0 victory after the break.

Opposition boss

Michael Skubala was named head coach of Lincoln two years ago and the Imps came close to making the play-offs in 2024, missing out on a top-six spot on the final day of the season.. The Nottingham-born 43-year-old was a coach at Leeds United when the Imps offered him a boss's role. Once director of football at Loughborough University, he had worked in England's under-18 set-up before moving to Elland Road. Last term, he led Lincoln to an 11th-placed finish.

Man in the middle

Craig Hicks is in his ninth season on the EFL list, having previously spent several years in non-league football. The Surrey official has shown 75 yellow cards in 26 games this season and has yet to send off a player. His last experience of the Millers came in the 0-0 draw at Luton Town in November.

The odds

The bookmakers make Rotherham huge underdogs, offering an away win at 7/1 and a Lincoln three-point haul at 1/3. A draw is 18/5.