This is what Mark Kennedy said about Bristol City ahead of Carabao Cup clash with Lincoln

Mark Kennedy has hailed Bristol City as ‘good opposition’ ahead of their third round clash in the Carabao Cup. Kennedy brings his Imps side to Ashton Gate hoping to provide an upset.

Lincoln, currently 13th in the League One standings, are hoping to surprise a few in the West Country, against a City side that is searching for consistency. The Robins have not won back-to-back games since the last international break and this will be their last opportunity.

Kennedy’s side arrive in Bristol in search of a result after their FA Cup exit to lower league opposition. Nearby Chippenham Town dumped them out of the competition with a 1-0 victory at Hardenhuish Park last Saturday. The ex-Cardiff City and Ipswich Town left-back wants to use this game as an opportunity to bounce back.

“We’re a collective unit and we’ll need everyone this season - the great thing about football is there’s always a game around the corner,” he said to the official club website. “I don’t want to play down the fact we lost in the FA Cup.

“We make no excuses and it is not good enough, but we have to be balanced in our assessment of where we are as a club. On Tuesday we go to Bristol City who are a good opposition in the Carabao Cup.”

This is the first competitive meeting between these two sides since April 1986. The last three matches have been 1-1 draws when the two played in the old Division Three during the mid 1980s.

In the head-to-head, City have won 19 games to Lincoln's nine whilst there has also been eight draws. This is the first meeting in the League Cup between the two clubs.

As for Bristol City, Nigel Pearson is expected to name a 'strong team' for this match. The Robins' Under-21's team play against Watford at the High Performance Centre, which will give an indication as to what side he might field. Joe Low made his competitive debut for City in their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough and could earn his first start.