Charlton Athletic v Lincoln City
Tuesday 13th February 2024 - Kick-Off: 19:45
Referee
David Rock - previously officiated Charlton against Exeter City back in October in our 4-1 win at The Valley.
Introduction
Sitting outside the relegation zone on goal difference when the teams below us have games in hand, it's got about as bad as it could get, surely? Nathan Jones has one hell of a job on his hands with a group of players who have so far failed to show the care, effort, and fight needed in a battle against the drop. To make matters worse, our captain looks set to jet off to Hungary and our form continues to decline. However, on the flip side, we now have a manager who we can start to connect with and getting behind the team, in the way we did at Reading, is the only way we can help drag us out of this mess. That must start with the first game at home under Jones, and it's Lincoln City who travel to The Valley on Tuesday evening. On what is Shrove Tuesday, let's hope that it's the visitors that put in a flat performance that we can take advantage of...
Opposition
Stadium: Sincil Bank Stadium
Manager: Michael Skubala
Nickname(s): The Imps
Previous result: A 2-1 win at home to Fleetwood Town. Their line up was:
Jensen
Sorensen - O'Connor - Jackson - Roughan
McGrandles - Erhahon
Taylor - Bishop - Hackett-Fairchild
House
When we last played Lincoln, they had just beaten Fleetwood 1-0 away from home, and after completing the double against them on Saturday, the result moves them up to 10th. Michael Skubala took charge in of the Imps back in November, his first managerial job, and they're currently on a 5 game unbeaten run which includes two draws and clean sheets against Peterborough and Derby. In fact, Lincoln have kept more clean sheets since we played them in October than we have all season...
In the reverse fixture, Sorensen scored, as he did at the weekend, and was the best player on the pitch. The right back/wing-back will look to continue his fine form and hurt our fragile defence. There will be one forced change at least to the side who won at the weekend, Charlton loanee Conor McGrandles will have to watch from the stands, and will probably be looking for his current side to pick up the points as he's out of contract in the summer and has surely played his last game for the club.
Charlton Team News
So much has changed since we played Lincoln in October, we had been on a good run going into the reverse fixture, our xG for was positive but the goals against tally and xG against was letting us down. Now, we go in to the game at The Valley in horrific form, continue to concede for fun, and the goals for have dried up. Since our last win against Cheltenham, way back in November, we have scored 13 in 13 and conceded 23, picking up a grand total of 5 points. It's dire.
The team that started that game in October was the same as I predicted: Maynard-Brewer; Asiimwe, Hector, Jones, Thomas; Dobson, Fraser, T.Campbell, Blackett-Taylor; May, Leaburn. The team we put out on Tuesday night is likely to have 8 (EIGHT) changes with the only players starting being Jones, Thomas, and May. Since, we would have let 3 players leave, two are long term injuries, and the others are out of form and out of favour.
Jones would have learnt a lot about his players, their character, and how they deal with pressure and I expect him to make some changes to reflect that and their performance levels. There could be a surprise or two included in the squad/starting XI and I think it could give the team and fans a boost. With Gillesphey coming off at half-time for Edmonds-Green, this might be one that continues to be the case. Camara made a return to the squad after 3 and half months out, and I think we could see another returnee to the squad after a similar amount of time away. Edun and Watson have really struggled at wing-back with performances on the decline for quite some time. Ramsay has played regularly and done well for Harrogate, and it might be time to bring him in. He's an attacking wing-back who is solid in 1v1 against his opponent, something that Watson struggles with, on both aspects. On the other side, Small's pace and power might help push the threat of Sorensen back but Edun knows the Danish full-back from his time at Lincoln so could be better suited to continue. We'll see...
Isted
REG - Jones - Thomas
Ramsay - Camara - Coventry - Small
L.Watson
May - Kanu
Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, Edun, Bakinson, Anderson, Ladapo, Aneke
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Lincoln City
May
Kanu
Prediction
Call me mental predicting a win, but in a game where the crowd is going to have to play its part, in Jones' first game in charge at The Valley, it could just, just, be a turning point in our season. Somehow we get the win and it doesn't matter how it comes, as long as it comes. Kanu to start ahead of Ladapo and the presence of Aneke on the bench is enough to come on and help us over the line. Edmonds-Green can play at right-centre back, covering Ramsay as he pushes forward and has the ability to move into the base of midfield to allow Camara to get closer to the attacking players. It's time to drag ourselves out of this mess.
Comments
Ramsay REG Jones Thomas Small
L Watson Dobson Camara
Kanu May
Anything less than the above is a joke.
we need a win not even a good performance and a draw.
just a win and start creating chances.
look at who is up for it and seems a threat (not to ourselves)
If sticking with same formation I would go
Isted
Reg Jones Thomas
ramsay Edun
Cov dobbo
Camara
Kanu. May
then using ladapo, Aneke bakinson l.Watson when legs tire
gonna say 2-1 win still Coyr
Our 2nd top scorer mr (og) and May (Aneke assist)
Absolutely no confidence in these cloggers giving a shit!
1-1
Lincoln battered us at their place earlier in the season, and it was the first time I realised our actual level, and had all my concerns confirmed in one night.
They haven't lost in their last 5, winning 2 and drawing 3, notable 2 draws against Derby and Peterborough, 0-0. A total of 2 clean sheets in their last 5, they currently sit 9th for league away form, we sit 17th for home form. In our recent league 1 history we have only managed to beat them twice in 7 attempts, drawing one other time and losing the other 4, so another league 1 bogey side.. aka the whole league at this point.
I think all in all, we will either lose or draw and I'm not expecting any signs of life till earliest March.
I saw nothing different at Reading to make me think we can win this game, and I don't think we have the squad to beat a solid side like Lincoln who will come with a game plan.
Head says 2-1 Lincoln, heart says 1-1.
Charlton 3 Lincoln 2
Eight changes in personnel from the last fixture in October. That says it all. You can't run a football club like that and expect anything else but failure.
Add to that the departure of CBT, the Dobson fiasco, the sacking of two managers in the previous two transfer windows, signing of injured and unfit players snd half a team of misfits out on loan. Just farcical.
If St Jones the Baptist can salvage this sinking ship then I will start attending church on a regular basis.
I would like to see the announcement of Scott's dismissal.
I would like to see Dobson picked as Captain, offered a decent contract and play a blinder to lead us to an unlikely 2-1 win.
Sadly the reality will be a 0-2 defeat with no sign of heart or soul. Or hope.
Fail to win this and with the next 3 games coming up after, we could well be heading into March cut adrift from 5th bottom.
Lincoln were in pretty poor form, 9 without a win and in danger of getting sucked into a relegation battle with us, but have addressed that by winning their last two and are now 10th, so i'm expecting a very tough game.
First goal will be vital here, if we score it'll give everyone a lift but if we go behind i can see heads dropping.
We have LOADS to play for, especially given the 3 games after Lincoln
That said, I’m 50/50 whether I will go or not - I was at Reading on Saturday, and that performance really pissed me off massively
If Watson and Edun are even in the squad, let alone starting, then I might simply finish my beer in the Oak and go home
Istad
Ramsey Reg Jones Gilesphey
Dobson Coventry
Camara
May Tayo
Kanu (If chucks can't start)
Let's face it May has been in effective when he has played up top, his best form and ours is when he is deeper.