Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough has described Charlton Athletic as “a different animal” to the one they faced earlier in the season at The Valley.
Only Birmingham (23) have collected more points than the Addicks (22) in the last 10 League One matches.
Charlton head to Field Mill off the back of a dominant 4-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at the weekend.
“We had a 0-0 down there and there was unrest,” said Clough, talking to Mansfield’s in-house media channel. “Now they are absolutely flying. They are probably the form team, along with Birmingham, in the league.
“They will be a different animal to what we faced before Christmas.
“Gary (Crosby) went to see them Saturday and they beat Huddersfield, who we have got to play next week. They are a good team and they lost 4-0. He said from the first minute they are on the front foot and also they mix it up. They will play a little bit, they’ll put it long, long throws and set-plays.”
Mansfield are 14th in the table and won 2-1 at Bristol Rovers at the weekend.
“The performance was not too good but the result was fine,” said Clough. “It is incredibly important to get to 47 points with eight games to go – we’re in touching distance of that 50-point mark.
“It’s about the result. So often this season it drives you mad that we’ve played so well – like Burton, Wigan and Blackpool – and got three draws. And then you get the same amount of points from that performance on Saturday. That is football for you sometimes. We capitalised on their mistakes and then for the last 20 minutes dug in really well and restricted them to very few opportunities.
“You go into games a little more confident from results, if not performances. Our mindset will be the same as all season – to go out to win the game. If we can’t win it then don’t lose it. Anything we get from the next three games before the 10-day will be fantastic.”
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