Lincoln v Cardiff result

Full-time · Lincoln 2–1 Cardiff

League One · Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:00 GMT

Updated 30 Jul 2026, 10:24 UK · refreshed continuously

Team pages: Lincoln · Cardiff

Lincoln 2–1 Cardiff — Lincoln won this League One match.

Match report, in numbers

The result

Lincoln beat Cardiff 2–1 in League One on Saturday 20 December. Expected goals (xG) tell a different story: Cardiff, from fewer shots (11 to 18), created the better chances, 2.54 xG to 1.88 (the provider’s expected goals for this match). Context.

The goals

Lincoln led 1–0 at half-time. The goals TACTIX’s match events name — Cardiff: an own goal by Alexander Robertson (40’) and Perry Ng (49’, assisted by Yousef Salech); Lincoln: Sonny Bradley (67’, assisted by Thomas Bayliss).

Discipline

Richard Eley, England showed four yellow cards — against 4.0 yellows a game across the last 6 matches refereed (this competition). The bookings — Lincoln: Thomas Hamer (22’), Conor McGrandles (34’) and George Wickens (80’); Cardiff: Omari Kellyman (44’).

What it changes

Lincoln stay second after this result (21 league matches played). Lincoln have scored 89 goals, the second-most of the 24 clubs (2025/26 so far, after 46 games). Lincoln have conceded 41 goals, the fewest of the 24 clubs.

Cardiff stay first after this result (20 league matches played). Cardiff have scored 90 goals, the most of the 24 clubs (2025/26 so far, after 46 games). Cardiff have conceded 50 goals, the third-fewest (shared) of the 24 clubs.

Lincoln are unbeaten in their last four matches in all competitions. Lincoln have scored in six consecutive matches in all competitions. Cardiff have scored in eight consecutive matches in all competitions.

Who stood out

By TACTIX Impact for this match, Perry Ng (Cardiff) 8.7, Sonny Bradley (Lincoln) 7.7 and Thomas Bayliss (Lincoln) 5.3 led the match.

Next up

Lincoln next host Wrexham on 21 November 2026.

Cardiff next travel to Norwich on 21 November 2026.

Written from the matches TACTIX holds for both sides; each figure names the games it is counted over.

Next for Lincoln: Lincoln v Wrexham, Saturday 21 November — the preview. Next for Cardiff: Norwich v Cardiff, Saturday 21 November — the preview.

The Numbers

Result: Lincoln 2–1 Cardiff · League One
Referee: Richard Eley, England
Recent form: Lincoln 3W 1D 1L · Cardiff 4W 0D 1L

Lincoln 2–1 Cardiff (League One): this fixture is settled. TACTIX’s pre-match coverage ran across every major market, and every graded call — wins and losses — is in the live track record (as of 30 July 2026). See the live track record →

Key Stats

1.38 / 2

Goals

against 1.38 / 1.63 · 4 of the last 5 over 2.5

over 8 matches

4.86 / 4.43

Corners

against 4.14 / 5.43 · 2 of the last 5 over 9.5

over 7 matches

4 / 6.71

Shots on target

against 4.14 / 4.29 · 2 of the last 5 over 8.5

over 7 matches

1.29 / 1.5

Cards

against 1.71 / 1.63 · 2 of the last 5 over 3.5

over 7 matches

4 yellows

Referee · Richard Eley, England

27.33 fouls a game

Home and away split · Pro

over 6 matches

Per game, last 8 completed matches, to 16 December 2025. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.

Per game, last 8 played matches, friendlies left out, to 16 December 2025. Goals in a match that went to extra time count at the 90-minute score; its other figures are left out. Bars: for (mint) against (amber), scaled to the larger figure in the row. Over/under figures use standard thresholds, not bookmaker lines.
Per game	Lincoln for / against	Line	Cardiff for / against
Goals scored	1.38 for · 1.38 against n 8 Last 5	2.5standard	2 for · 1.63 against n 8 Last 5
Corners won	4.86 for · 4.14 against n 7 Last 5	9.5standard	4.43 for · 5.43 against n 7 Last 5
Shots	10.86 for · 13.14 against n 7 Last 5	19.5standard	15.86 for · 12.86 against n 7 Last 5
Shots on target	4 for · 4.14 against n 7 Last 5	8.5standard	6.71 for · 4.29 against n 7 Last 5
Fouls committed	11.86 for · 10.14 against n 7 Last 5	21.5standard	8.86 for · 12 against n 7 Last 5
Cards shown	1.29 for · 1.71 against n 7 Last 5	3.5standard	1.5 for · 1.63 against n 8 Last 5

Referee: Richard Eley, England — 4 yellow cards a game, 0 red cards, 27.33 fouls over 6 matches.

The referee's home and away split · Pro

Create free account Try Pro for £1.00 then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

Lincoln

Lincoln Defensive

Lincoln — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Lincoln before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Fouls committed 1+2+	Fouls won 1+2+	Likely duel
T. Bayliss n 8	75.9	0.4 3/0	0.7 4/1	R. Wintle
T. Darikwa n 8	90	0.4 3/0	0.8 4/2	Joel Bagan
C. McGrandles n 8	86.6	0.5 4/0	1.8 7/5	R. Wintle
R. Street n 8	57.4	2 7/2	1.6 5/3	Cian Ashford
S. Bradley n 8	90	0.5 3/1	0.6 3/1	Joel Bagan
See more players · Pro Try Pro for £1, then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

Lincoln — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Lincoln before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Tackles 1+2+
T. Bayliss n 8	75.9	2.5 6/4
T. Darikwa n 8	90	1.5 6/3
C. McGrandles n 8	86.6	3 6/5
R. Street n 8	57.4	1.4 6/1
S. Bradley n 8	90	0.5 3/1
See more players · Pro

Lincoln Attacking

Lincoln — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Lincoln before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Shots 1+2+	Shots on target 1+2+
T. Bayliss n 8	75.9	0.6 3/1	0.3 1/1
T. Darikwa n 8	90	0.1 1/0	0.1 1/0
C. McGrandles n 8	86.6	0.3 2/0	0.1 1/0
R. Street n 8	57.4	1.2 4/2	0.4 2/0
S. Bradley n 8	90	0.6 5/0	0.1 1/0
See more players · Pro

Lincoln — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Lincoln before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Goals 1+2+	Assists 1+2+
T. Bayliss n 8	75.9	0.1 1/0	0 0/0
T. Darikwa n 8	90	0 0/0	0.1 1/0
C. McGrandles n 8	86.6	0 0/0	0 0/0
R. Street n 8	57.4	0.2 1/0	0 0/0
S. Bradley n 8	90	0 0/0	0.1 1/0
See more players · Pro

Cardiff

Cardiff Goalkeeper

Cardiff — Goalkeeper: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Saves	Goals conceded	Penalties saved
N. Trott	22	901980 min	642.9 /90	251.1 /90	00 /90

Cardiff — Goalkeeper saves: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Cardiff before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 2+, lower cell 3+.
Player	Mins	Saves 2+3+
N. Trott n 8	90	2.5 5/5

Cardiff Defensive

Cardiff — Defensive: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Tackles	Interceptions	Blocks	Duels won	Fouls committed	Yellow cards
Joel Bagan	24	862071 min	431.9 /90	150.7 /90	110.5 /90	984.3 /90	150.7 /90	50.2 /90
D. Lawlor	17	751268 min	130.9 /90	120.9 /90	201.4 /90	553.9 /90	80.6 /90	20.1 /90
C. Chambers	14	831161 min	171.3 /90	110.9 /90	100.8 /90	524 /90	120.9 /90	40.3 /90
P. Ng	13	71920 min	202 /90	111.1 /90	60.6 /90	545.3 /90	131.3 /90	30.3 /90
Cian Ashford	21	731526 min	201.2 /90	70.4 /90	00 /90	774.5 /90	110.6 /90	00 /90
See more players · Pro

Cardiff — Discipline: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Cardiff before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Fouls committed 1+2+	Fouls won 1+2+	Likely duel
Joel Bagan n 8	89	0.4 3/0	0.9 4/3	S. Bradley
Y. Salech n 8	82.9	2.4 6/6	0.8 3/2	—
N. Trott n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0	—
Cian Ashford n 8	80.1	0.1 1/0	2.1 7/4	R. Street
R. Wintle n 8	83.9	0.4 3/0	0.1 1/0	C. McGrandles
See more players · Pro

Cardiff — Tackles: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Cardiff before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Tackles 1+2+
Joel Bagan n 8	89	1.4 7/3
Y. Salech n 8	82.9	0.4 3/0
Cian Ashford n 8	80.1	1 4/3
R. Wintle n 8	83.9	0.7 4/1
R. Colwill n 8	81.3	0.7 3/2
See more players · Pro

Cardiff Attacking

Cardiff — Attacking: season totals in played matches, friendlies left out, appearances of 15+ minutes; per 90 minutes under each figure; total minutes under the average, before kick-off.
Player	Apps	Avg mins	Goals	Assists	Shots	Shots on target	Key passes	Dribbles completed
Y. Salech	23	711639 min	110.6 /90	30.2 /90	573.1 /90	251.4 /90	231.3 /90	80.4 /90
C. Robinson	15	47702 min	40.5 /90	00 /90	131.7 /90	70.9 /90	40.5 /90	30.4 /90
Cian Ashford	21	731526 min	40.2 /90	20.1 /90	201.2 /90	140.8 /90	160.9 /90	231.4 /90
R. Wintle	20	841676 min	10.1 /90	30.2 /90	80.4 /90	40.2 /90	140.8 /90	80.4 /90
C. Willock	19	581104 min	30.2 /90	30.2 /90	131.1 /90	80.7 /90	231.9 /90	191.5 /90
See more players · Pro

Cardiff — Shooting: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Cardiff before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Shots 1+2+	Shots on target 1+2+
Joel Bagan n 8	89	0.1 1/0	0.1 1/0
Y. Salech n 8	82.9	2.7 6/5	1.2 5/3
N. Trott n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
Cian Ashford n 8	80.1	1.4 5/4	1.4 5/4
R. Wintle n 8	83.9	0.5 3/1	0.3 2/0
See more players · Pro

Cardiff — Goalscoring: per 90 minutes, each player’s last 8 appearances of 15+ minutes in played matches, friendlies left out for Cardiff before kick-off, to 16 December 2025. Meter: one column per match, newest first; upper cell 1+, lower cell 2+.
Player	Mins	Goals 1+2+	Assists 1+2+
Joel Bagan n 8	89	0.1 1/0	0.4 3/0
Y. Salech n 8	82.9	0.8 5/1	0.3 2/0
N. Trott n 8	90	0 0/0	0 0/0
Cian Ashford n 8	80.1	0.3 2/0	0.1 1/0
R. Wintle n 8	83.9	0 0/0	0.3 2/0
See more players · Pro

The day’s free picks, by email

Every morning at 07:30 UK: the model’s free picks, each with its confidence tier and that tier’s settled record, misses included. No tips, no guarantees, one click to leave.

Match Statistics & Details

Full-time team statistics as recorded by the data provider; – = not recorded.
Lincoln		Cardiff
33%	Possession	67%
1.88	Expected goals (xG)	2.54
18	Shots	11
7	Shots on target	4
8	Shots off target	4
3	Blocked shots	3
10	Shots inside the box	8
4	Corners	3
3	Offsides	1
12	Fouls	11
3	Yellow cards	1
0	Red cards	0
2	Saves	6
266	Passes	562
72%	Pass accuracy	86%

Lincoln Player Stats

Player	Min	G	A	Sh	SoT	KP	Tkl	Cards	Rating
G. Wickens	90	0	0	0	0	0	0	Y	6.7
T. Darikwa	90	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	6.9
T. Hamer	90	0	0	1	0	1	1	Y	6.6
S. Bradley	90	1	0	2	2	3	0	0	8.9
A. Reach	90	0	0	1	0	3	3	0	6.9
C. McGrandles	90	0	0	0	0	0	4	Y	6.3
T. Bayliss	89	0	1	3	2	2	2	0	6.9
R. Street	87	0	0	3	1	0	2	0	6.6
R. Hackett	86	0	0	2	1	2	0	0	6.3
F. Draper	64	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.6
J. Moylan	63	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	6.2
R. Towler sub	27	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.7
Justin Patrick Nnamdi Obikwu sub	26	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.6
D. Jefferies sub	9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.7
Francis Okoronkwo sub	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.5
Ivan Varfolomeev sub	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	–

Cardiff Player Stats

Player	Min	G	A	Sh	SoT	KP	Tkl	Cards	Rating
M. Turner	90	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7.2
P. Ng	90	1	0	1	1	2	2	0	7.3
W. Fish	90	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.2
D. Lawlor	90	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.9
Cian Ashford	90	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	6.7
O. Kellyman	90	0	0	1	1	0	1	Y	5.9
Y. Salech	90	0	1	2	0	1	0	0	6.7
R. Wintle	82	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	6.9
A. Robertson	74	0	0	2	1	0	1	0	6.2
C. Willock	74	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	6.6
Joel Bagan	45	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	6.5
R. Kpakio sub	45	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.3
C. Robinson sub	16	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	6.5
I. Davies sub	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6.3
D. Turnbull sub	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6.6

Sh = shots, SoT = shots on target, KP = key passes, Tkl = tackles; – = not recorded for that player. Rating is the data provider’s.

Form, Head-to-Head & Standings

The numbers behind Lincoln v Cardiff — recent results, past meetings and where each side sits. (TACTIX’s model forecast is in the projections below.)

Recent form

LincolnWLWWD

Last 5: 3W 1D 1L · 2 scored / 1.4 conceded per game

CardiffWWWWL

Last 5: 4W 0D 1L · 2.4 scored / 1.6 conceded per game

League standing · 2025/26

Lincoln#1 pos103 pts46 pl+48 GD

Cardiff#2 pos91 pts46 pl+40 GD

Goals per game

Lincoln scored1.93

Cardiff scored1.96

Lincoln conceded0.89

Cardiff conceded1.09

The Full Post-Match Picture

Pro members see this match shot by shot — every attempt with its expected-goals value, the situation and shot-type breakdowns, the xG timeline, and how the model’s pre-match probabilities compared with what happened. Plus every market the model graded for this fixture.

Try Pro for £1

then £9.99 a month unless you cancel · 18+

Today’s Boards

Every fixture kicking off in the UK day, and the fixtures where the free pick leads with each market.

Predictions today Tomorrow BTTS board Over 2.5 board Under 2.5 board Over 1.5 board Home win board Away win board Double chance board

This page is generated from TACTIX’s match data by our software and checked automatically; data as of 30 Jul 2026, 10:24 UK. How it works → · Report an error

How our model works · Live track record · Predictions are model output, not betting advice.