Three Things The Imps Need To Do To Win Versus Charlton Athletic

Ahead of Saturday’s match away at Charlton Athletic in League One, I asked the Vital Lincoln City members what three things they think The Imps need to do to pick up all three points.

You can discuss what has been said in this article HERE, as well as many other topics on our 100% Imps forum! Every page view helps raise money for Lincoln City Football Club!

Here’s what sedgleyimp said:

1. Match them up in the middle of the pitch. Charlton have won their last three games without conceding a goal, shades of Shrewsbury’s recent revival. Key to that run have been a midfield three of Gilbey, Dobson, and Fraser. All have been patrolling the centre of the pitch for those three wins. We need to make sure that we are not over-run in that area of the pitch and as such we will have to solidify that part of the game with numbers, and players who are capable of putting themselves about. The perfect game for a return of the fit-again Liam Bridcutt. I would suggest so and if selected his performance in that central role will be very important. If we fail to get a grip of that area of the pitch, we will be beaten.

2. Speed it up a bit. Saturday’s match at Shrewsbury had the feel of an end of season nothing to play for match where we fell to a late sucker punch. The speed of play never got above slow. Movement off the ball was lacking. Both speed of play and though will be needed this weekend.

3. Cut out the ‘Hollywood’ balls. I really don’t have a problem with playing it around at the back so long as it is done with a degree of urgency as that is what pulls the opposition out of place. What needs to be cut out though, and again it can be with the required correct movement off the ball, are those Hollywood-style passes from one part of the pitch trying to get it to a player on the opposite side. Nine out of ten times they fail to hit their target and result in gifting the ball back to the opposition and allow them to counter-attack with our players out of position. Players need to play it smarter.

Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph!

Have a go at our Lincoln City versus Charlton Athletic Quiz, published last season (they were all correct at the time they were published):

Three Things The Imps Need To Do To Win Versus Charlton Athletic:https://t.co/4Mmg2CmEGS#CAFC #ImpsAsOne

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) March 30, 2022