January 4, 2019 11.43 am This story is over 62 months old

Imps rev up for FA Cup showdown with Everton

Up the Imps
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The magic of the FA Cup has sprung its fair share of surprises over the years and Lincoln City will be hoping they can cause an upset at Premier League side Everton on Saturday.

As previously reported, the Imps, who are currently top of League Two, were given an away tie against Everton at Goodison Park in the third round of the FA Cup. The tie will kick-off at 3pm on Saturday, January 5.

Route to Round 3

In Round One goals from Harry Anderson and Tom Pett put the Imps 2-0 up after 52 minutes before Northampton levelled the score through Jack Bridge and Kevin van Veen.

Lincoln secured their progress into round two when Bruno Andrade scored an injury-time winner in the match at Sincil Bank on November 10.

The following month the Imps beat fellow League Two side Carlisle 2-0 at Sincil Bank in Round Two thanks to goals from Matt Rhead and John Akinde.

The Imps now face Premier League opposition – it will be the first time they have played Everton in a competitive fixture since the teams faced off in the 1993 League Cup. After a two-legged goal fest, Lincoln lost that match 8-5 on aggregate.

FA Cup heroics of 2016/17

The Imps became the first non-league side in over 100 years to reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup in the 2016/17 season.

Lincoln beat Championship side Ipswich 1-0 in the third round that season before causing another upset in round four with a 3-1 victory over Brighton.

Sean Raggett’s late goal ensured Lincoln made history in a 1-0 win at Premier League side Burnley, when they became the first non-league side in 103 years to reach the quarter-finals.

The quarter-final ended in a 5-0 defeat at Arsenal, but the Imps definitely did the city proud in what was an amazing cup run.

The win over Burnley proved they can claim a Premier League scalp, can they do it again or will they come unstuck against the Toffees?

Meanwhile, Joan Luque, who only signed for the Imps in August, left the club after the expiry of his contract earlier this month.

Another county side in action

Grimsby will also face Premier League opposition in the third round of the FA Cup with a trip to Crystal Palace.