Holden: “We’re ready for this game”

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Dean Holden wants to see his side give the Valley faithful ‘something to shout about’ when Charlton host Lincoln City on Saturday.

The Addicks go into the game on the back of a full week on the training ground following the 3-1 victory at Fratton Park on New Year’s Day.

“We’ve had a really good week and now we’ve got to back up that performance at Portsmouth against an opponent who is close to us in the league,” said Holden. “We know where three points can take us in terms of moving higher up the division.

“It’s the next challenge in front of us and that’s why it’s a big game. The fans will be with us at kick-off and we’ve got to make sure we give them something to shout about.

Lincoln travel to SE7 on the back of two impressive results at the LNER Stadium.

“In the last two games they’ve played Bolton - who are going really well this season - and Ipswich - who are flying- and they’ve managed to get a point out of both games which are two really good points,” the boss said.

“Last week they lost their captain with a sending off just around the half-time mark, so they played the whole second half against Ipswich with 10 men and managed to get a point. They will be coming here with a little bit of confidence.

“We know the way that they want to play with a back three and they’re really expansive, so we need to make sure that we get our triggers right in terms of the way that we press. [Jack]  Diamond in particular is a very good player at this level and we know where their threats are.”

Asked what Charlton fans can expect to see in the January transfer window, Holden said: “I’ve said already that we’re looking to improve the squad and we want to come out of the window with a more balanced, better squad than we went into it with.

“We’re working hard behind the scenes. People don’t want to hear that; they want to hear that we’ve signed someone and they want to see the player with the scarf above his head. We’re going to do our work quietly. We’re not involved in any rumours. I get asked all the time by the press and I respect the questions.

“I know the fans want the answers, trust me, and it’s an exciting time for supporters which I get, but it’s important that we don’t alert other clubs as to what we’re doing, what positions we’re looking at and where we think that we need to improve. We’ll do our work diligently, we’re certainly looking to improve the squad and I’m confident that we will.”

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