Lincoln City vs Cardiff City: form, goals and key statistics

Key match information

Lincoln City play Cardiff City in EFL League One (England). The match date is 20 December 2025 at 16:00. Final score: 2:1.

Current form

Lincoln City: 4-1-0, 2.60 points/match. Cardiff City: 3-1-1, 2.00 points/match.

Goal statistics

Lincoln City scores 1.93 and concedes 0.89 goals per match. Cardiff City scores 1.96 and concedes 1.09. League average: 2.62 goals.

BTTS / Over / Under

BTTS: Lincoln City 50%, Cardiff City 54%. Over 2.5: Lincoln City 54%, Cardiff City 54%. League level: BTTS 52%, Over 2.5 51%.

xG, shots and style

Cardiff City has higher xG: 1.81 vs 1.45. Lincoln City: 12.6 shots per match, Cardiff City: 16.0.

Match halves

Lincoln City: half-time lead 67%, second-half goals 0.93. Cardiff City: half-time lead 33%, second-half goals 1.24.

Goals by minute

Lincoln City: 31-45+ (21 goals). Cardiff City: 76-90+ (22 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.

League context

League One: 2.62 goals per match, BTTS 52%, Over 2.5 51%.

Head-to-head

1 H2H matches: 1-0-0. Average goals 2.00, BTTS 0%.

Half-by-half

1 : 0
1st half
1 : 1
2nd half

Match statistics

33Possession (%)67
Lincoln CityCardiff City
18Shots11
Lincoln CityCardiff City
7Shots on target4
Lincoln CityCardiff City
2.01xG1.31
Lincoln CityCardiff City
4Corners3
Lincoln CityCardiff City
54Dangerous attacks45
Lincoln CityCardiff City
12Fouls11
Lincoln CityCardiff City
3Cards1
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Pre-match profilewhat do the season numbers say?

This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.

Lincoln CityCardiff City
1.93Goals scored / match1.96
Lincoln CityCardiff City
0.89Goals conceded / match1.09
Lincoln CityCardiff City
42%Average possession63%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
4.65Shots on target / match5.43
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Team statswho is more efficient?

Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.

12.57Shots per match15.98
Lincoln CityCardiff City
4.65Shots on target5.43
Lincoln CityCardiff City
15.4%Shot conversion12.2%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
42%Possession63%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
1.45xG for1.81
Lincoln CityCardiff City
1.28xG against1.28
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Shooting quality

Lincoln City: Counter-attackingCardiff City: Dominant
Lincoln CityCardiff City
Accuracy (shots on target)37%34%
Chance quality (xG per shot)0.120.11
Finishing (goals per shot on target)0.420.36

xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.

* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.

Team formwho is in better shape?

Last five matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.

Lincoln City is 30% better for: last-5 form.

2.6 pts / match - Lincoln City · 2 pts / match - Cardiff City

Lincoln City
WDWWW
Unbeaten in the last 5 matches
Season result split
67% W22% R11% P
Season (W-D-L)
31-10-5
2.24 pts / match · goal difference +48
Last 5 (W-D-L)
4-1-0
2.60 pts / match
Record at home (W-D-L)
18-4-1
Last 5 at home
5-0-0
WWWWW
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 2.4Goals conceded: 1.2xG: 1.64Opponent xG: 1.38BTTS: 60%Over 2.5: 60%
Cardiff City
DWWWL
Season result split
59% W22% R20% P
Season (W-D-L)
27-10-9
1.98 pts / match · goal difference +40
Last 5 (W-D-L)
3-1-1
2.00 pts / match
Record away (W-D-L)
10-8-5
Last 5 away
2-2-1
WDDWL
Last 5 matches - averages
Goals scored: 2.8Goals conceded: 1.6xG: 2.04Opponent xG: 1.42BTTS: 80%Over 2.5: 60%

Goalshow do both teams score and concede?

How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.

Lincoln City is 22% better for: goals conceded per match.

0.89 goals / match - Lincoln City · 1.09 goals / match - Cardiff City

Lincoln City scoring profile: very strong

Lincoln City scores in 89% of matches (41 of 46 matches), while Cardiff City keeps a clean sheet in 37% (17 of 46 matches).

Cardiff City scoring profile: very strong

Cardiff City scores in 87% of matches (40 of 46 matches), while Lincoln City keeps a clean sheet in 41% (19 of 46 matches).

89Goals scored (season)90
Lincoln CityCardiff City
41Goals conceded (season)50
Lincoln CityCardiff City
2.83Average goals in match3.04
Lincoln CityCardiff City
12Goals scored (last 5)14
Lincoln CityCardiff City
6Goals conceded (last 5)8
Lincoln CityCardiff City

How often they score at least...

89%1 goal87%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
65%2 goals52%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
26%3 goals35%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
11%4 goals20%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

How often they concede at least...

59%1 goal63%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
24%2 goals24%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
7%3 goals13%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
0%4 goals4%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.

Both teams scored (BTTS)how often do both teams score?

How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.

52%
League average

Goal patterns

17%BTTS at half-time20%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
2%BTTS in both halves4%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
50%Scored in both halves33%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

BTTS and goal count

41%Min. 3 goals and BTTS39%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
13%Min. 3 goals without BTTS15%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
60%BTTS - last 580%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Goal count (Over/Under)how often do these matches cross the goal lines?

How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.

1st half

85%Min. 1 goal before half-time67%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
30%Min. 2 goals before half-time35%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
15%Min. 3 goals before half-time11%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

2nd half

83%Min. 1 goal after half-time83%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
37%Min. 2 goals after half-time59%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
22%Min. 3 goals after half-time26%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Match halveswhen do the teams score more often?

How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.

Lincoln City is 53% better for: first-half form (half-time points).

2.24 pts / match - Lincoln City · 1.46 pts / match - Cardiff City

Lincoln City - half-time state
67% leading22% draw11% trailing
Cardiff City - half-time state
33% leading48% draw20% trailing

Before half-time (1st half)

2.24Points per match (1st half)1.46
Lincoln CityCardiff City
1Goals scored (1st half)0.72
Lincoln CityCardiff City
0.35Goals conceded (1st half)0.5
Lincoln CityCardiff City
1.35Average goals (1st half)1.22
Lincoln CityCardiff City
76%Clean sheet before half-time63%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
22%No goal before half-time50%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

After half-time (2nd half)

1.67Points per match (2nd half)2.02
Lincoln CityCardiff City
0.93Goals scored (2nd half)1.24
Lincoln CityCardiff City
0.54Goals conceded (2nd half)0.59
Lincoln CityCardiff City
1.48Average goals (2nd half)1.83
Lincoln CityCardiff City
52%Clean sheet after half-time59%
Lincoln CityCardiff City
39%No goal after half-time30%
Lincoln CityCardiff City

Lincoln City - second-half results

46% W30% R24% P
103
Half-time points
46
Half-time goals
+30
Goal difference (1st half)
77
Second-half points
+18
Goal difference (2nd half)
2.24
PPG before half-time
Lead holding100%

Leads at half-time in 67% of matches and wins 67%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time+0.2

Concedes 0.2 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.

Cardiff City - second-half results

59% W26% R15% P
67
Half-time points
33
Half-time goals
+10
Goal difference (1st half)
93
Second-half points
+30
Goal difference (2nd half)
1.46
PPG before half-time
Lead holding179%

Leads at half-time in 33% of matches and wins 59%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.

Defence after half-time+0.1

Defence stays stable across the full match.

Lincoln City - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match2.401.80
Goals scored / match1.41.0
Goals conceded / match0.40.8
Average goals in match1.81.8
1 goal100%100%
2 goals60%20%
3 goals20%20%
Clean sheet80%60%
No goal0%20%
Goal difference+5+1
Half-time: 80% leading - 0% draw - 20% trailing
2nd half: 60% won - 0% draw - 40% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 20% - Half-time goals total: 7
Cardiff City - last 5 matches by half
1st half2nd half
Points per match1.403.00
Goals scored / match0.82.0
Goals conceded / match0.80.8
Average goals in match1.62.8
1 goal80%100%
2 goals40%60%
3 goals40%60%
Clean sheet60%40%
No goal60%0%
Goal difference0+6
Half-time: 40% leading - 20% draw - 40% trailing
2nd half: 100% won - 0% draw - 0% lost
BTTS at half-time (last 5): 0% - Half-time goals total: 4

* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.

Goals by minutewhen do goals arrive?

Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.

Lincoln City
ScoredConceded
12
5
0-15
13
4
16-30
21
7
31-45
9
6
46-60
15
7
61-75
19
12
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 31-45 (21 goli). Concedes most in 76-90 (12). Late-goal balance (76-90): +7 - wins late phases.

Cardiff City
ScoredConceded
8
5
0-15
8
10
16-30
17
8
31-45
21
9
46-60
14
9
61-75
22
9
76-90

Most dangerous in minutes 76-90 (22 goli). Concedes most in 16-30 (10). Late-goal balance (76-90): +13 - wins late phases.

* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.

Additional team indicatorswhat do xG, efficiency and form show?

A comparison of chance quality, results and trends based on completed matches from the current season.

Match profile

2.94
Estimated goals
attack vs opponent defence
1.5 : 1.4
Estimated goal split
home : away
112%
Pace vs league
100% = league average
52%
Both teams scored (BTTS)
average from both teams' seasons
-32%
Derby effect
H2H goals vs typical matches
77%
BTTS estimate
from both teams' scoring frequency
1%
0:0 risk
about 1 in 100 matches
0-1
Most common goal range
attack vs defence on both sides

Lincoln City

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
+0.17
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.87
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-10.8 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.48
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.39
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
130%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
77%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
+0.36
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
-0.1
Late goals
21% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 13% come in the first quarter-hour.
21%

Cardiff City

Net xG balance
Difference between the quality of chances created and allowed per match.
+0.53
Results compared with xG
Difference between the actual goal balance and the balance suggested by xG.
+0.34
Points compared with goal balance
Comparison between collected points and the points implied by the team's goal balance.
-14.5 pts
Finishing efficiency
Does the team convert chances? Positive means it scores more than the quality of chances suggests.
+0.15
Defensive efficiency
Does the defence or goalkeeper save the team? Positive means it concedes less than the chances allowed suggest.
+0.19
Attack vs league
How much the team scores compared with the league average for this role. 120% means 20% above average.
170%
Defence vs league
How much the team concedes compared with the league average. 80% means 20% fewer goals conceded.
74%
Form trend
Compares points from the last 5 matches with the whole-season average.
+0.02
Stronger second half?
How many more goals the team scores after half-time than before it.
+0.5
Late goals
24% of this team's goals come in minutes 76-90. For comparison, 9% come in the first quarter-hour.
24%

* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.

League contextis this a high-scoring league?

How both teams compare with league-wide averages (League One).

Teams vs league

Lincoln CityLigaCardiff City
Average goals in match 2.832.62 3.04
Both teams scored 50%52% 54%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) 54%51% 54%
Clean sheets 41%27% 37%
Goal before half-time 85%70% 67%
Goal after half-time 83%81% 83%

^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.

2.62
Average goals per match
52%
Both teams scored
51%
Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5)
27%
Clean sheets
1.48
Home goals / match
1.15
Away goals / match
+29%
Home attack advantage
+22%
Home defence advantage
+17%
Total home advantage
Goals in 1st half (whole league)
70%
1 goal
31%
2 goals
11%
3 goals
3%
4 goals
Goals in 2nd half (whole league)
81%
1 goal
43%
2 goals
17%
3 goals
5%
4 goals

Head-to-head

Previous meeting: Lincoln City 1 - 0 - 0 Cardiff City. Average goals 2.00, both teams scored in 0% matches.

FAQ

What was the result of Lincoln City vs Cardiff City?

The EFL League One match finished Lincoln City 2:1 Cardiff City. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.

What do the goal statistics show before Lincoln City vs Cardiff City?

Lincoln City score 1.93 goals per game on average and Cardiff City 1.96. The EFL League One average is 2.62 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 51% of games. Both teams score in 50% of Lincoln City's matches and 54% of Cardiff City's.

What form are Lincoln City and Cardiff City in?

Over the last 5 games Lincoln City have a 4-1-0 record (2.60 points per game) and Cardiff City 3-1-1 (2.00 points per game).

Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Lincoln City vs Cardiff City?

This page shows the full statistical context — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under. The tip, value assessment and full reasoning are in the NoFluffPicks app.