Newly-appointed Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones takes charge of his first Addicks home game on Tuesday, when Lincoln City arrive at The Valley for a League One fixture.
The former Southampton coach's reign began with a 2-0 loss to Reading at the weekend, while their mid-table visitors edged past Fleetwood Town 2-1.
Match preview
© Reuters
Still searching for their first win in any competition since the end of November, Charlton were not blessed with the new manager bounce phenomenon during Saturday's clash with Reading, which saw the Royals march to a comprehensive victory over the Addicks in Berkshire.
Charlton held out for 66 minutes at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, but two goals from Femi Azeez within 10 minutes of each other proved the difference, and Jones was left to lament the nature of the efforts his side conceded; both came from long throws which the Addicks failed to deal with.
Nevertheless, the ex-Southampton boss affirmed that he "learned a lot" from his side's performance at Reading, although he understandably stressed the need for an imminent revival as Charlton continue to sleepwalk towards danger - only goal difference is keeping them out of the relegation zone for now.
However, Port Vale - who are level on points with Charlton - and Cheltenham Town both have two games in hand over Jones's side, meaning that survival is not in the hands of the Addicks, who have now experienced a disheartening 15-game run without victory in any tournament.
That horrific sequence has also seen the hosts fail to keep a single clean sheet while suffering four defeats in their last four League One fixtures at The Valley, where a 1-0 loss to Derby County on February 3 also ended an eight-game scoring sequence on familiar territory.
© Reuters
Lincoln and Charlton fans can empathise with one another when it comes to lengthy winless runs, as the visitors to The Valley went 10 games without a triumph from December 9 to January 27, but Michael Skubala's side have since found their groove again.
After ending their unsightly winless sequence with a 1-0 success on Burton Albion's turf on February 3, Lincoln continued their perfect start to the month by virtue of a 2-1 comeback win over Fleetwood on Saturday, where Ben House and Lasse Sorensen responded to a first-half Promise Omochere strike.
A red card to Fleetwood midfielder Bosun Lawal on the stroke of half time certainly aided Lincoln's second-half recovery, but by making the most of their numerical advantage, Skubala's men have cemented a top-half ranking in 10th place, although a playoff push is surely still out of the question for the Imps.
Twelve points separates Lincoln from Stevenage in the final post-season position, but the Imps have not surrendered their promotion dreams just yet as they endeavour to extend their five-game unbeaten run, during which time they have let just two goals fly past them.
Lincoln also proved a class above for Charlton during October's clash at the LNER Stadium, which ended in a 3-1 success for this week's visitors, although the Addicks were left elated and the Imps deflated at The Valley in January 2023, when Tuesday's hosts marched to a 2-1 win in this fixture.
Team News
© Reuters
Charlton boss Jones is still unable to call upon highly-rated striker Miles Leaburn due to a hamstring injury, while centre-back Macaulay Gillesphey only lasted until half time in the weekend's defeat to Reading, raising fears of another fitness issue.
Gillesphey has been in the wars with his own hamstring concerns, but Jones insisted that his half-time alteration at the Select Car Leasing Stadium - which saw Rarmani Edmonds-Green come on for the second period - was tactical in nature.
On a brighter note, midfielder Panutche Camara came off the bench for his first appearance in League One since Halloween over the weekend, having spent over three months on the sidelines with a torn muscle fibre.
Regarding Lincoln, defender Alex Mitchell has served a one-match ban after seeing red in the win over Burton and is eligible to return to the visitors' backline; a timely comeback after Adam Jackson suffered a suspected broken nose in Saturday's success over Fleetwood.
Neither Ethan Hamilton nor Freddie Draper were involved at the weekend due to respective knee and ankle issues - which they sustained in training - although Skubala did not rule either man out of Tuesday's match when speaking to the press after the game.
Jack Burroughs is nursing his own ankle concern and is expected to spend up to four weeks in the infirmary, while Lewis Montsma is still on the long road to recovery from an ACL injury.
Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Isted; Thomas, Jones, Edmonds-Green; T. Watson, Bakinson, L. Watson, Coventry, Edun; Ladapo, May
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Sorensen, O'Connor, Mitchell, Roughan; McGrandles, Erhahon, Bishop, Hackett; House, Taylor
We say: Charlton Athletic 1-2 Lincoln City
Having lost their golden touch at The Valley, Charlton could be set for another frustrating evening against a Lincoln side who have given little away in their defensive third over the past few weeks, even with a handful of rearguard concerns to manage.
While we have faith in the Addicks to make one of their chances count on Tuesday evening, a third successive victory for Lincoln is still the only outcome we can envisage.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
