2026-27 Sky Bet Championship: Week One – Saturday

Middlesbrough begin their 2026-27 Sky Bet Championship campaign with a tough test against newly-promoted Lincoln City.

Middlesbrough will seek to mount another automatic promotion campaign after they lost to Hull in last season’s Play-Off Final.

Lincoln City meanwhile were promoted back to the second tier as League One champions after a 65-year absence.

 

Team News

Aidan Morris is a doubt for Middlesbrough after he suffered a late knock in training prior to their 1-0 Carabao Cup first-round victory over Wrexham last weekend.

Summer signing, Myles Peart-Harris could make his debut if he passes a late fitness check after he missed the cup game with a knock.

David Strelec (knock), Alex Bangura (unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle) and Riley McGree (hamstring) will too be subject to those tests, but Tommy Conway is still ruled out with an ankle injury.

Lincoln City will again be without Sonny Bradley due to a minor knee injury which kept him out of their Carabao Cup first-round win at Derby.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Middlesbrough host Lincoln City at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday 15 August at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Middlesbrough have won just one of their last six league meetings against Lincoln City (W1, D2, L3).
• Lincoln City are making their first visit to Middlesbrough’s current home, Riverside Stadium. but have won just one of 12 previous visits in all competitions to the Teesside club (W1, D4, L7).
• Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last five opening-weekend league fixtures (W2, D2, L1).
• This is Lincoln City’s first second-tier fixture since they won 2-0 against Leyton Orient at home on 29 April 1961.

 

Prediction

Having shaken off any potential hangover effects of their play-off heartbreak with a clinical Carabao Cup win over a pretty full-strength Wrexham, Middlesbrough now have a great chance to lay a solid opening marker if can show more composure in their end product.

Lincoln City meanwhile continued their quick direct attacking play – that won them the League One title last season – in their clinical Carabao Cup victory at Derby, so I am expecting them to hold little fear coming into this tough-looking test despite being underdogs for many.

I however do think that Middlesbrough will win this but the Imps will not make it easy.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Lincoln City

Result: Middlesbrough 2-1 Lincoln City