Four takeaways from Charlton’s 2-1 win over Lincoln City: Another encouraging display

Charlton made it back-to-back wins as they defeat Lincoln City 2-1. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the triumph at The Valley.

A LARGELY PROMISING DISPLAY

The Addicks backed up the New Year’s Day win at Portsmouth with an equally encouraging display. An untidy opening 20 minutes or so had to be navigated but once Charlton gained a foothold, they enjoyed a dominant spell either side of an interval that they arrived at two goals to the good.

Scott Fraser continues to flourish in the more advanced role that Dean Holden has put him in. The midfielder opened the scoring after releasing Miles Leaburn on the right and continuing into the area to meet his teammate’s cross with a firm header.

Scorer turned provide just before the break as he slipped in Corey Blackett-Taylor – who finished in style.

Leaburn could have killed it off shortly after the break but the Imps did wrestle their way back into the contest through Dan Mandroiu finished with 15 minutes left. But the Addicks held on for their first home league win since October.

COREY BLAST-IT TAYLOR

I loved Blackett-Taylor’s finish for the second goal. An emphatic, no nonsense thump into the roof of the net that left Carl Rushworth a mere spectator.

Corey needs to finish with such aplomb more consistently. He’s now on four goals for the season, a career best in one league campaign.

A player with the attributes he has to breeze beyond defences and create chances for himself and others should have a much better goal return over his career. He must look to use this latest strike as a springboard towards more consitency in front of goal.

STILL SOME NERVES TO CONTEND WITH

There were still 25 anxious minutes, which included nearly ten of added-time in the end, for the Addicks to contend with after Lincoln halved the deficit.

The heavens well and truly opened as the game neared its conclusion. With what felt like gale-force gusts blowing as well, the conditions were as far from what you’d want when seeing a game out.

On the whole, Charlton dug in. Mandroiu did have one late, late chance to nick a point but his effort flashed wide. The Addicks haven’t kept a clean sheet in ten league games now, but Holden will hope they’re heading in the right direction.

They’ve only allowed a total of six shots on target at their own goal during the last two games – a 45% reduction from the 11 that Peterborough and Oxford combined to carve out in the two before those. Hopefully this is the start of the Addicks become harder to breach – but it still must be proven over a longer period.

ALL EYES ON OLD TRAFFORD

It seemed that all anyone could talk about in SE7 before yesterday’s game was Tuesday evening’s EFL Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford. The tie has captured the imagine of the Charlton fanbase like nothing else has recently.

Where are you staying? How are you getting up there? Where’s your seat? Which pubs are you boozing in? Every detail of the venture to the north west has been picked over by a fanbase that has waited too long for a big day out.

For the next few days, the off-field chaos and uncertainty will be put to one side. This tie is about celebrating what being a Charlton fan is all about. 9,000 plus will make the trip to Old Trafford as the Addicks fanbase comes together for what will be a special evening – win or lose. They’ll bring their voices and the outside hope that their side could cause a major upset.