Lincoln City v Charlton Athletic
Tuesday 24th October 2023 - Kick-Off: 19:45
Referee
Daniel Middleton - Never officiated a Charlton game before. The man in the middle has spent much of his refereeing career at National League level until this season.
Introduction
Life at The Valley under Appleton is great. 17 goals in 5 games in all competitions at home under the new manager, 4 wins and a draw. The football, albeit mainly in the second half, is good and attacking, it's threatening and opponents at this level don't usually have enough to deal with that kind of threat. Aneke got off the mark which was so important for him, and the team, and that set us on our way to a resounding victory. We have yet to really been able to assess our quality on the road. Only 4 away games so far makes it challenging but the players will be desperate to get that first away win on the board as they travel up to Lincolnshire where we play Lincoln City.
Opposition
Stadium: Sincil Bank Stadium
Manager: Caretaker
Nickname(s): The Imps
Previous result: A 0-1 win away at Fleetwood Town. Their line up was:
Jensen
O'Connor - Jackson - Mitchell
Sorensen - Hamilton - Erhahon - Burroughs
Smith
Bishop - Hackett-Fairchild
With Lincoln recently sacking Mark Kennedy after a run of 1 win in 7 in the league, they followed up with an away win at lowly Fleetwood. However, the CEO at Lincoln has since come out and said that results were not the reason for Kennedy's sacking, Instead, it's been cited that his style of play, development of players, and speaking out, in public, against current players was enough for the board to part ways with him. However, I personally don't think he was any good anyway and his record as a manager is average, at best. He's also ex Millwall and Palace so must be a bit of a wrong'un!
I won't pretend to know much about Lincoln, their strengths and weaknesses, or much about their players either. To be fair, the longer we are in this league, the less enthusiasm I've got to do the analysis on opposition. Most teams now play very similarly with many adopting a back 3 or 5, whichever way you want to look at it. The recent success of promotion playing that way by Rotherham, Ipswich, Plymouth, and Sheffield Wednesday means managers will aim to copy. Appleton though has gone differently and could be a reason of our success.
I do know though about Hackett-Fairchild, Sorensen, and a player who hasn't played much at all this season but Appleton will know well, Timothy Eyoma. The former, and ex-Charlton academy graduate signed for Lincoln in the summer following a fairly uninspiring spell at Pompey. The left footed forward can glide across the pitch but I have seen little in recent years to tell me that he's going to be a threat at this level. Recco though will know Thomas having made his Saint Lucia bow this year. Sorensen is a player who feels like he has been at Lincoln for years. Signed in the summer of 2021 after a successful loan spell at Milton Keynes, the right-wing back has shown to be a good player at this level. Whether he will be able to handle Blackett-Taylor is going to be a key battle throughout. It might also require CBT doing a bit of defensive work too as Sorensen is decent going forward, scoring twice in the league already this season. The latter of the list, Eyoma, is a centre back who was signed from Tottenham after a successful loan with the Imps. Although not playing much at all this season, he's a strong young defender who would love the battle with Leaburn up top.
Charlton Team News
Last time out I wrote about our xG and how it had us in 5th but our goals against was the downfall. Well, this time we are in 3rd for xG and although the stat has its flaws, it's worth analysing every so often as usually those with a higher xG are likely to perform more consistently throughout the season. The only two with a better xG for are Peterborough (who always score goals) and Portsmouth, who are top. It's a good indicator that if we continue to create the quality of chances we do, we have the players at the top end of the pitch to put the ball in the net. All sounds a bit obvious, but the clean sheet the weekend was vital. Especially going away just 3 days later.
Aneke got off the mark for the season, and it was a huge relief for all. Chuks had worked so hard to get himself back and playing at the level he has since. It was a heart sinking moment when he went down and we know he won't be available for the game tomorrow evening, but we can only hope that it's a minor injury that he'll be back in no time. So that means Leaburn will start up top and Tedic will likely drop to the bench with Tyreece Campbell starting, and deservedly so after a fantastic 45 minutes which was topped off with a wonderful goal.
Personally, I would like to see Asiimwe start ahead of Watson as I don't think we have seen enough from the right back to convince us that he's the better option. However, with keeping a clean sheet, it might be too dangerous for Appleton to make that change when he has been relatively consistent in the back four of late. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fraser come in for Louie Watson, with the quick turnaround, fresh legs in the middle of the park might just be what is needed and he was singled out, along Dobson, for praise of putting his body on the line on Saturday. Chem Campbell to come in to the squad for Aneke. The rest as is.
Maynard-Brewer
Asiimwe - Hector - Jones - Thomas
Dobson - Fraser
T.Campbell - May - Blackett-Taylor
Leaburn
Walker, T.Watson, Ness, L.Watson, Camara, C.Campbell, Tedic
Lincoln City 0-2 Charlton Athletic
May
Blackett-Taylor
Comments
I think we’ll do it but it’ll be tight. 1-2.
Really think Apples looks upon TC as an impact sub though, and will probably stick with the Tedic on the right, but whatever formation he uses, we will be too strong on the night and feel we will win by two clear goals, and a clean sheet would be nice, but not imperative...
They also had Diamond on loan, who was very good, but is now back at Sunderland. House done well too but has been out for a little while this season. They had eight 0-0 draws last season. They're not a side who will ever score many.
It's going to be tough, I agree, and we really need a win away from home. With the attack we have, I think we'll get all 3 points.
Look forward to it
There are various permutations that involve Tedic, Leaburn and Campbell across the 2 positions but none should involve Tedic on the right, it is like playing with 10 men!
I have pointed out over a number of posts that Lincoln had a sound defence last season, and that doesn't seem to have changed that much this season. No heavy defeats......
I think Watson has a great workrate, but he's clearly better further up the pitch and playing him in one of the two holding roles means he's goes missing at times. He puts a shift in, but it's not his best role.
I mean we're spoiled for choice, and that's before we have Camara fully fit. But I think we're better overall with Fraser in the side, even if I think he (and LWatson) perform better in a midfield three.
https://www.weareimps.com/news/2023/october/matchday-guide-charlton/
Small teas you say 🤔😉