Lincoln City 0, Charlton Athletic 0
City battled hard but were held to a goalless draw at the LNER Stadium against Charlton Athletic in difficult conditions.
In weather that brought some parts of the country to a standstill, it was never going to be a footballing feast for the spectators, but Head coach Michael Skubala was pleased with his side’s resilience as both sides struggled in swirling winds to create clear cut chances.
“It was really difficult for both teams. The wind is the hardest thing to play, the ball was swirling all over the place and that affected the game a lot.
“The challenge we set ourselves as a group was to get a clean sheet, and I thought in those conditions the back three were fantastic. At the end it felt like we were the ones pushing and were more like ourselves.
“They are a physical team who put it on you, they want to land on the second balls, and it’s really hard to play against but I thought we stood up to that."
Early half-chances fell to Conor McGrandles who fired a volley high and wide and Freddie Draper also dragged his effort off course.
Jack Moylan looked threatening on the ball in the opening periods and had an effort saved after he jinxed past Lloyd Jones and Alex Mitchell following some clever hold up play from Jovon Makama and Draper.
Tyreece Campbell was the next to have an effort as he fired a long-range strike over the bar for the visitors.
Following some pressure from the Addicks, Gregg Docherty had a shot go just wide of the post.
Ethan Erhahon hit an effort over the bar towards the end of the half after some more strong hold up play from Makama.
Sean Roughan whipped a dangerous corner into the box which just evaded Montsma at the back post.
A corner was cleared for the Imps was cleared away by Charlton, a ball back into the box caused problems for the visitors but Reeco Hackett’s effort didn’t trouble Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
Tyreece Campbell found substitute Allan Campbell in the box but his effort at the near post didn’t trouble George Wickens. A ball over the top from Paudie O’Connor found Makama in behind the Charlton defence but his pass was just taken off the foot of Bailey Cadamarteri.
City’s head coach felt a point was fair on the balance of play, and was confident his side could build on a solid performance against the Addicks.
“We were solid, we know they’re a really direct team and that they would put it on us a lot and as the game wore on we looked solid and like we were getting on top of it.
“We couldn’t quite create a clean chance but there were moments from set pieces and crosses. A point was probably fair, but if any team was going to win it I felt it was going to be us.
“We had to get back to clean sheets because then we know we can win games, and the backline was really solid.”
Picture: Vaughan Photography
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