Lincoln City

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West Ham United are celebrating winning both the Championship's manager and player of the month awards for September.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo oversaw an unbeaten run last month which produced four wins from their five league games in which they scored 18 goals.

Defender Konstantinos Mavropanos had a prolific September for the Hammers, scoring four goals while also helping them keep two clean sheets as they moved up to second place in the table.

"I am delighted to win this award, but it was an excellent team effort this month," said Mavropanos.

"We had some good results, went on a good run, and obviously this award means that we are doing something good with the team.

"I am the one who has been given the award this time, but it could have been any of my team-mates, and I am just really happy that we are in a good way right now."

Lincoln head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, Swansea's Vitor Matos and Mark Robins of Stoke City were also nominated for the manager award.

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Chris Wilder will seek to avoid unwanted history as his Sheffield United side welcome Lincoln City to Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Blades have won two of their opening eight Championship games to sit 18th, just four points above the relegation zone.

Newly-promoted Lincoln are two points and six places better off and could climb into the top-six with a win, coupled with favourable results elsewhere.

• This is the first league meeting between Sheffield United and Lincoln City since the 1983-84 campaign, with the Blades unbeaten in both meetings (W1 D1).

• In all competitions, Lincoln City and Sheffield United last met in the League Cup second round in 2023-24 – after a 0-0 draw, the Imps went through 3-2 on penalties.

• Sheffield United have lost six of their past 11 home league games (W2 D3), including the last two. Outside of the Premier League, the Blades have never lost three in a row at Bramall Lane under Chris Wilder.

• Lincoln have won 11 of their past 14 away league matches (D2 L1), with nine of those wins coming alongside a clean sheet, including the last three, all 1-0 wins. The only two newly promoted sides in Football League history to win four away games in a row without conceding are MK Dons in 2008-09 and Burton in 2015-16, both in League One.

• Sheffield United have given the most minutes (5,456) and starts (61) to English players in the Championship this season, while Lincoln rank third for both (4,436 minutes and 50 starts).

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Lincoln City head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, Swansea's Vitor Matos, Mark Robins of Stoke City and West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo have been nominated for September's Championship manager of the month award.

Cohen and Shaw oversaw a run of eight points from five games for newly-promoted Lincoln last month, including away wins at Preston and Bristol City.

Matos won August's award and is in the running again as Swansea took 10 points in September to move to the top of the Championship table.

Stoke City recovered from losing their opening three games of the season under Robins to go unbeaten last month with four wins from their five outings and move up to seventh place.

West Ham boss Nuno's side rattled in 18 goals in their five matches in September with only Millwall preventing them from taking three points in a 2-2 draw at The Den.

The winner will be announced at 06:00 BST on Friday, 9 October.

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Lincoln City midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev has made his international debut for Ukraine during their 2-1 loss to Hungary in the Nations League on Monday.

The 22-year-old came off the bench in the 86th minute.

His maiden appearance follows his first international call-up, however he remained on the bench for the side's match against Northern Ireland on Friday.

Lincoln will be back in action on Saturday against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Lincoln City's head of medical Kieran Walker and head of performance Josh Snowden sit down with BBC Radio Lincolnshire to talk health and fitness at the Imps.

As part of the discussion, Walker gives an update on captain Tendayi Darikwa who had his his season ended by a knee injury in late August.

The defender has come through surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament and is in the first weeks of recovery at home.

You can hear more about how the medical and performance team are working with Darikwa and the wider team by hitting the play button above.

The latest episode of BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Red Imps Club podcast is out now.

Lincoln City fans join the show to discuss other supporters' criticism, away games and late former Imps boss Keith Alexander.

Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

And don't forget to tap the 'follow' button at the top of this page to stay up to date with the latest Lincoln City news.

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Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen has claimed midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev "epitomises" the club after earning his first senior international call-up.

The 22-year-old will have the chance to represent Ukraine in their Nations League campaign during the international break.

Varfolomeev was a key component of Lincoln's promotion-winning squad and has made five Championship starts this term.

"It's just so deserved," Cohen said.

"There isn't a player that epitomises Lincoln City much more than Ivan does in terms of work ethic, desire to win, desire be the best he can be every single day, so it's lovely when players of that type get the rewards that sometimes they don't."

Winger Chiedozie Ogbene will join Varfolomeev on international duty after being called up by the Republic of Ireland.

The Lagos-born 29-year-old already has 35 caps to his name and will join the squad in their trip to Kosovo in the group stages of the Nations League on Thursday, 24 September.

In other team news, defenders Callum Elder and Tom Hamer are "close" to returns but are not confirmed to make the squad for the game against Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Listen to the full interview from Cohen and defender Deji Elerewe below or on BBC Sounds here.

After starting their return to the Championship with two successive defeats, Lincoln City take a five-game unbeaten run into their home meeting with Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Imps have also kept four clean sheets in those five matches but Swansea did put three past struggling Burnley last weekend.

• This will be the first league meeting between Lincoln City and Swansea City since April 2005, when the Imps won 1-0 in League Two.

• Swansea have lost 10 of their past 12 away league games at Lincoln City (W1 D1), including all four in the 21st Century.

• Lincoln City have won each of their past two league games, both 1-0 against Preston and Bristol City; the last newly promoted side to win three successive Championship games without conceding was Hull City in January 2022.

• Although Swansea have only lost one of their past 10 league matches (W6 D3), that was their last away game, a 1-3 defeat at Southampton.

• Swansea lead the Championship this season in high turnovers (65) and shot ending high turnovers (14), while only Norwich (103) have recorded more pressed sequences than the Swans (102).

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Lincoln City midfielder Ivan Varfolomeev has earned his first call-up to the Ukraine senior squad for the country's Nations League group matches in September and October.

The 22-year-old is making the step up after regular appearances across Ukraine's youth levels.

Ukraine are in the same group as Hungary, Georgia and Northern Ireland, with their first match against the Hungarians on Friday, 25 September.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio Humberside say that former Grimsby assistant head coach Shaun Pearson has joined Lincoln's backroom staff.

He left the Mariners last month and is set to be named as a first-team coach for the Imps.

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by former Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town defender Luke Chambers to chat all things EFL in the latest episode of the 72+.

What next for Preston after they sacked Paul Heckingbottom? How far can Lincoln go after a strong start to the season?

Saturday sees Millwall face West Ham for the first time since 2012 and Lions defender Caleb Taylor joins the pod to talk their London derby.

Shrewsbury look set to be the latest EFL club with American owners as BBC Radio Shropshire's Nick Southall explains how Brad Friedel is involved.

Listen to the full episode above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Championship match between Bristol City and Lincoln City.

The Imps jumped into the play-off places after making it five games unbeaten, with four clean sheets along the way, with victory over former boss Michael Skubala's new side.

It means back-to-back defeats for the Robins, who have lost two of their three games at Ashton Gate without scoring.

Here are some of your comments:

Bristol City fans

Simon: Unfortunately it is the same old Bristol City. Previous managers have had the same start but cannot guide this club to success. The fans have become restless and it is not going to get easier. Fair play to Lincoln, they stuck to their game plan which they deployed last season - done City a right kipper.

Alan: Possession with very little purpose.

Tim: What an appalling performance by City. Far too passive and slow in possession. Our midfield lacked creativity and, as usual when playing against physical opponents, came off second best in the important challenges. There's no obvious change in our playing style at home under Skubala yet, other than playing for set-pieces where Cardines' delivery was unusually poor. Where on earth is Tomi Horvat?

Farouk: Is there a more consistently disappointing team in the Championship than Bristol City. The Lansdown family continues to prove it's far better at investing other people's money than their own, and this ever-growing toxic atmosphere in a soulless stadium is no longer a place to take my children. A decade of continually buying and selling the wrong players, erratic tactics and inflated prices have tested the patience of even the greatest BS3 intellectuals.

Patrick: Same old story! Lack of quality up front!

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Lincoln City fans

Tony: What a defensive unit the Imps have, truly awesome, and the work rate of everyone else is incredible. We win as a team and fight for each other for the full 90+ minutes. Totally unexpected start to the campaign, keep it up you mighty Imps.

Paul: Great performance, all playing for each other, what a defence!

Brent: Well done! Imps so far exceeding expectations. Skooby can hardly be surprised.

Graeme: Ok it's not pretty but the way these players back each other up is exceptional. One real chance and it was taken.

Kevin: Congratulations to the mighty Imps. They may be playing in the second tier for the first time in 65 seasons but holding their own, for now. Long may it continue.

Lincoln City head coach Chris Cohen spoke to BBC Radio Lincolnshire after his side beat Bristol City 1-0 away from home

"We're incredibly proud of the group of players. We love working with them," he said.

"We love being part of it and we just keep - at the moment - giving these fans these amazing memories, which is what it's all about.

"These away games at big stadiums, where Lincoln City, maybe from the outside looking in shouldn't be winning, me and Tom [Shaw, co-head coach] are so happy to be a part of it.

"Every player works so hard every day. We have to drag them off the training ground - I've never seen it to the extreme that it is now of how together they are as a unit, and it gives you a chance.

"We could have drawn that game, we could have lost that game. George makes a brilliant save at 1-0 and maybe it's a different game, but I know we're going to give ourselves a chance from pure personality, heart and passion."

Image source, Opta

Bristol City boss Michael Skubala welcomes former club Lincoln City to Ashton Gate on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

Skubala left the Imps in the summer for the West Country after leading the club to League One promotion and into the Championship for the first time since 1961.

The Robins are still licking their wounds after a 4-1 defeat by Southampton on Saturday while the Imps picked up their second win of the campaign by beating Preston North End 1-0.

• This will be the first league meeting between Bristol City and Lincoln City since April 1986; each of the last three league games between the sides have finished 1-1.

• Lincoln City have lost 14 of their last 16 Football League visits to Bristol City (W1 D1), with this their first since a 1-1 draw in 1985-86.

• Bristol City have alternated between losing and winning their last six home league games (3 defeats, 3 wins). After their 2-1 win over Portsmouth, the Robins could win back-to-back matches at Ashton Gate in the Championship for the first time in 2026.

• Lincoln are unbeaten in their last 14 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W10 D4) since a 0-2 defeat to Blackpool in January 2025.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their last 11 home league games against newly promoted opponents (W7 D3), a 0-1 defeat to Ipswich in October 2023.

Lincoln City head coach Tom Shaw spoke to BBC Radio Lincolnshire following Saturday's 1-0 Championship win at Preston North End.

"We wanted our lads to be a bit more calm, a bit more confident in possession, which we did," he said.

"We don't ever want to indulge, we don't want to be that football team. We want to threaten the goal from everywhere but there are games, and we are learning that maybe a bit more away from home, that we need to have bit more of the ball if we can and it's the right thing to do.

"[Possession] is the stat we probably look at last. When we are reflecting on the game, it's more the feel of the game, and we just didn't want to give the ball back too easy today because they have some real quality player that will hurt you, like Alfie Devine, if you get it wrong.

"So we wanted to be in charge of some situations, which we did brilliantly in the first half when we got into good areas where we could have been a bit better and bit more aggressive around the goal. But that stuff will come. And then we had our aggressive moment in the penalty area in the second half that decided the game."