Lincoln City head coach Michael Skubala has warned his players they face a stern physical test when they travel to Charlton Athletic, a side he believes are among the most aggressive and dominant in League One.
The Addicks, under Nathan Jones, have surged into fourth place and are on course for a play-off finish. Their home form at The Valley has been particularly impressive, losing just twice all season and regularly overpowering opponents with a relentless style of play.
Skubala’s Lincoln side, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency away from home. With just five victories on the road and currently sitting in 12th position, the odds are stacked against them heading into one of their most challenging away days of the season.
Charlton’s home fortress stands tall
Few teams have found success at The Valley this campaign, and Skubala is under no illusions about the task at hand. He was forthright in his assessment of Jones’ side and the threat they pose to any visiting team.
“We probably haven’t done well enough away from home this season. It’s one of those challenges against big teams this season with huge stadiums where we drew when we should have won. It’s always a challenge to go away from home and it’s going to be a huge challenge at Charlton.
“They have an immense home record – they’re really strong. They have the best home form. They look like the team who are chasing [for the automatics]. They are getting wins over the line. We are going to have to be on it or we’re going to get hurt.
“We have to start fast and stand up to what they do. Nathan knows how he wants to play at this level. They’re very powerful and very good at landing on second balls. They bully you with the ball and make you defend a lot.”
Jones has made Charlton a physically imposing outfit, capable of controlling games through aggressive pressing, winning second balls, and maintaining high possession in dangerous areas. Their style has been effective, and as Skubala noted, they’ve become a side that forces others to adapt to them — not the other way around.
For Lincoln, the trip could be make or break in terms of morale. While their own hopes of a top-six finish appear slim, a statement performance on Saturday would be welcome validation of progress under Skubala. Their struggles on the road — including missed chances and draws in winnable games — will have to be addressed quickly if they are to halt Charlton’s momentum.
As League One enters its final stretch, matches like this serve as litmus tests for clubs striving for consistency and identity.
Site opinion
Charlton Athletic are peaking at just the right time. Nathan Jones has built a side that not only wins but imposes its will — a trait any promotion contender must have. For Lincoln, this clash is about more than points; it’s about resilience and mentality. If the Imps can match Charlton physically and take their chances, they might not just survive — they could thrive. Still, on current form, few would bet against the Addicks continuing their charge.
Leave a Reply