- 1 Bournemouth vs Lincoln City: three leads blown at one end, four unbeaten games at the other
- 2 Bournemouth: an attack that keeps scoring, a defence that keeps wobbling
- 3 Lincoln City: a promoted side that has developed a taste for cup upsets
- 4 Football prediction Bournemouth vs Lincoln City
- 5 First, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information changes
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Bournemouth vs Lincoln City: three leads blown at one end, four unbeaten games at the other 
Bournemouth have scored first in all three of their Premier League matches and still failed to win any of them. They have let every lead slip.
Kick-off in this third-round EFL Cup tie is set for Tuesday 8 September at 19:45 UK time, which is 20:45 in France, at the Vitality Stadium.
Lincoln City head to Dorset on a run of four unbeaten games in all competitions. They are in their first Championship season since winning promotion.
The Imps won League One in 2025-2026 and ended a 65-year absence from the second tier of English football. They are now sitting 17th.
European commitments are shaping Marco Rose’s team selection, with his side due to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League on 17 September. A heavy rotation is expected from Bournemouth.
Lincoln have already cleared two rounds to get here, beating Derby County 2-1 and Blackpool 4-1, both away from home. That kind of run doesn’t look like luck.
Even so, the gap in divisions is clear enough between a Premier League club and a Championship newcomer. The real issue is how strong Bournemouth actually go on Tuesday night.
The format brings its own twist: no second leg, just straight knockout football over 90 minutes. Rotation matters far more than it would in a league match.
Bournemouth: an attack that keeps scoring, a defence that keeps wobbling 
Marco Rose took charge this summer and is still waiting for his first win as Bournemouth boss. Three Premier League games, no victories.
The record reads 2-1 defeat at Manchester City, 1-1 draw with Everton and a 2-2 stalemate at Newcastle United on Saturday. Three games, two points.
The pattern is the same every time: Bournemouth score first, then get caught or pushed aside. The Cherries have dropped their lead in each of their outings.
So the issue isn’t the attack right now. It’s what happens when the game turns ugly, and the back line has to hold firm. That part is badly lacking.
Veljko Milosavljevic remains out, along with Julian Araujo, who is recovering from a thigh injury. James Hill and Bafode Diakite are expected to partner up in central defence.
Up front, Eli Junior Kroupi and Amine Adli are both missing with foot and calf problems. Ben Gannon-Doak, Ryan Christie and David Brooks should support Daniel Jebbison.
A domestic cup tie at home to a second-tier side is about as friendly a setup as Bournemouth could ask for to get a win on the board. They still need the XI on the pitch to do the job.
The cup break also gives Marco Rose a chance to shuffle things before a packed September. On 17 September, Bournemouth begin their Europa League campaign against Real Sociedad.
Daniel Jebbison should lead the line, with Ben Gannon-Doak, Ryan Christie and David Brooks behind him. That quartet carries most of the attacking threat available for this one.
Try it for $0.99.
Lincoln City: a promoted side that has developed a taste for cup upsets 
Lincoln City have built their EFL Cup run on two away wins. Derby County were beaten 2-1, Blackpool were swept aside 4-1.
The club are co-managed by Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, who oversaw a 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday. That result stretched their unbeaten run to four matches.
Seventeenth place in the Championship does not tell the full story of their start. The Imps took a point at Blackburn with a 0-0 draw and won 1-0 at Bolton.
Their main strength has been away from home. Lincoln have won three of their last four away matches in all competitions.
The club lost captain Tendayi Darikwa to injury on 22 August against Portsmouth. The right-back suffered an ACL tear and will miss the rest of the season.
Daniel Oyegoke and Callum Elder are expected to fill the wide roles in his absence. The back three could be made up of Andrei Coubis, Adam Jackson and Ryley Towler.
This gives the Imps a rare chance to test themselves against Premier League opposition away from home. The likely rotation in the Bournemouth line-up only makes the tie more appealing.
The 4-1 win at Blackpool is the benchmark for Lincoln’s cup run. They scored four away goals in a single match.
The Cohen-Shaw partnership has steadied the side after opening defeats to Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. The four games since then have brought no losses.
Probable Bournemouth XI: Di Gregorio ; Smith, Hill, Diakite, Soler ; Cook, Scott ; Gannon-Doak, Christie, Brooks ; Jebbison
Probable Lincoln City XI: Gauci ; Coubis, Jackson, Towler ; Oyegoke, Bayliss, Konak, Elder ; Melia ; Olaofe, Street
Football prediction Bournemouth vs Lincoln City
Our tip: Bournemouth to win in 90 minutes
Bournemouth have scored first in all three of their Premier League games, against Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle. There is no doubt about the attacking talent here against a second-tier opponent.
Lincoln come in on a four-match unbeaten run, but they are still 17th in the Championship and without captain Tendayi Darikwa until the end of the season. The gap in individual quality is still significant, even with a reshaped Bournemouth side.
Marco Rose is still waiting for his first win since arriving, and this is the most favourable setup he has had so far. Take Bournemouth to get through within 90 minutes.
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
_________
First, a word on our free picks
- What we publish on mathodds are opinions, nothing more. We share a view, a reading of the moment, but never a guarantee. Sport is what it is: unpredictable. A red card, an injury, a goal out of nowhere… and the script changes completely.
- Let’s be clear: there is no risk-free bet. Even when something looks obvious, nothing truly is. And yes, that means you can lose. In fact, you will at some point.
- The best approach is to stay sensible. Bet small, set a budget and stick to it. Above all, don’t touch money you need to live on. And don’t chase losses — that usually ends badly.
- A bet should stay a bit of fun, not a job or a source of income. If it starts to take over your day, leaves you irritated or puts you under pressure, take a break. If needed, speak to a specialist support group. That’s what they’re there for.
- At the end of the day, the responsibility is yours. Reading our content means accepting that risk exists and isn’t going anywhere, even with the best analysis in the world.
- Essential reminder: betting is banned for minors and must follow the law in your country. Gambling can go badly wrong fast, with money problems, family strain and addiction. Need Help? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In the UK? Visit https://www.gambleaware.org/https://www.gambleaware.org/.
No commitment from us
Our tips are not a contract. They have no legal force. In plain terms: you cannot use them to demand anything if a bet loses.
Information changes
A tip is always based on what we know when it is written. But between then and now, a team sheet changes (like Bournemouth’s), a player gets injured, the weather turns… and the analysis can quickly be outdated. We cannot be held responsible for that.
Your responsibility
Before betting, check that it is legal where you are. If it isn’t, that is your responsibility, not ours.
Responsible gambling first
We cannot say it enough: gamble in moderation. If you struggle to stay in control, get help without delay. We cannot be responsible for compulsive or excessive use of the information published on the site.
Legal age
mathodds content is for adults only. By using this site, you confirm that you are old enough under the law to place a bet.
About the images…
The Bournemouth and Lincoln City images and logos on mathodds, including those linked to the EFL Cup, are there only to illustrate our articles. They do not mean we have any official link with a federation or sporting organisation, and we claim no rights over them.
Those rights belong to the original creators. If, despite our care, any image causes an issue, contact us: it will be removed without delay.
Our only aim with these images is to make the reading experience better. Nothing more. No commercial gain, no taking credit for someone else’s work.
Leave a Reply