January 27, 2017 9.47 am This story is over 86 months old

Lincoln City prepare for sell-out FA cup tie against Brighton

Lincoln City welcome Brighton and Hove Albion of the Championship to Sincil Bank this Saturday, in the 4th round of the FA Cup (kick off 3pm). The game is sold out, with a crowd of over 9,000 expected. City are in the 4th round by virtue of a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at Sincil…

Lincoln City welcome Brighton and Hove Albion of the Championship to Sincil Bank this Saturday, in the 4th round of the FA Cup (kick off 3pm).

The game is sold out, with a crowd of over 9,000 expected. City are in the 4th round by virtue of a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at Sincil Bank which was also a sell out just ten days ago.

Some fans queued through the night on Wednesday just to get their hands on one of the 250 tickets that went on general sale.

It won’t be the first time the two sides have met in the FA Cup. As recently as 2003 Brighton, then of League One, were knocked out by League Two Lincoln by three goals to one. The fortunes of the two teams have contrasted sharply since then.

The match has also been chosen for extended highlights on Match of the Day, the second-time City have featured on the programme this season. It will be the fourth consecutive match TV cameras will be at an Imps game.

There may be some hope for City though, Brighton manager Chris Hughton favours playing a weaker team in cup competitions as he concentrates on getting into the Premier League. That could work to the Imps advantage.

Lincoln have only featured at this stage of the competition on three other occasions in the modern era, the most recent coming in 1976 against West Brom. Prior to that defeats in 1961 by Sheffield United and 1954 by Preston North End represent the furthest progress they’ve made in the competition.

On Tuesday, City suffered defeat for the first time since Boxing Day, going down 3-0 to Barrow in the league. Despite this setback, they remain top of the division, four points clear of their nearest rivals.