Two wins in two for Charlton Athletic but boss Lee Bowyer promises the best is yet to come

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Chuks Aneke’s goal seven minutes from time at Bloomfield Road made it two wins from two for Charlton Athletic – but boss Lee Bowyer promised that the best is still to come from his newly-assembled side.

Both teams ended the game with 10 men on a controversial evening beside the seaside that also saw Ryan Inniss denied his first Addicks goal by an extremely slow offside flag before Aneke’s late intervention secured the victory for the South Londoners.

James Husband was given his marching orders with barely a minute played after he tugged full debutant Omar Bogle down when the Charlton man was through on goal.

The sides were evened up just before the break as Ben Purrington received his second yellow card for a foul on CJ Hamilton.

Inniss thought he had given his new employers the lead midway through the second period as he headed a corner home but the officials decided Bogle had interfered from an offside position.

The Addicks did however secure their second away win of the campaign inside the final 10 minutes as Ian Maatsen’s deep cross was nodded back by Alfie Doughty for Aneke to apply the finishing touch.

Charlton chief Bowyer said: “We made hard work of it. They went down to 10 men quite early. I’d rather he’d have gone through and scored and we played 11 v 11, it would have been a much better game. They always looked to then even it up. I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t then take advantage of that. We didn’t move the ball, we didn’t really hurt them when they went down to 10.

“But the most important thing on a Tuesday night, when you come to places like Blackpool, is the three points. I’ve just said that to the players. We’re much better than what we showed tonight. We showed in bits, here and there, what we can do and what we’re capable of doing but we just didn’t show it enough tonight. I’m happy with the three points but we will get better. We made a few changes, people just gelling into the squad. But we will get better as we go along.

“It was a great goal. Young Ian, I thought he was very sharp when he came on. He showed what he does. He’s got some quality. Great delivery, Alfie good header and Chuks, I’m pleased for Chuks. He’s really starting to come alive in that striker role. I’m pleased he got his goal because he deserves it.

“When we went down to 10 at half-time we went into a formation that we’ve never played. It was brave. We went three for three at the back and it was brave. We went two v two in the middle of the park and can our wing-backs cause a problem? They did that. That’s where I thought we looked dangerous and we were going to hurt them. I’m pleased for the lads. To take something onboard that we’ve not practised before was really good. I’m really pleased.

“[Blackpool are] going to be up and around the top six, for sure. They’ve put a good squad together. They’ve been building for a while. That’s a good result that. Three points away at Blackpool, there’s not going to be too many teams that do that.”

PICTURES: PA/KYLE ANDREWS