Conor Washington and Omar Bogle praised by Charlton boss Lee Bowyer after win over Fleetwood

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Having gone over nine and a half hours without conceding a goal, Lee Bowyer says that his Charlton defence were given a helping hand by the forwards during the 3-2 win over Fleetwood Town.

Ched Evans’s quickfire double wiped out the 2-0 lead that the Addicks had built in the opening half an hour at The Valley on Tuesday night and halted an impressive run of six clean sheets.

But Conor Washington’s brace, following up on Ben Purrington’s opener, meant the hosts won for the sixth time in a row during a gruelling run of six games in three weeks.

With Plymouth visiting SE7 on Saturday in the FA Cup, Bowyer will be looking to rotate his squad to take the pressure off a tiring back-line.

He said: “Today is a day where the strikers helped out the defenders. Previously, it’s been the defenders helping out the strikers. As a group, I can’t ask for any more from them. They’ve given absolutely everything from these last six, seven eight games. Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, it’s relentless.

“I can’t explain to you how difficult that is to do for the lads, I’m really proud of them. Now they can have a little break and recharge the batteries because they definitely need it. I think you saw there at the end a few of the players were running on empty. They’ll get a little break now.

“[Washington] didn’t stop working hard for the team but I think they all do that. I felt a bit for Omar [Bogle]. If you think, the goal, Conor’s first one, Omar does all the hard work and it comes back. Don’t get me wrong you have to be there in the right place, right time and a good finish as well. The penalty was excellently taken. The pair of them are working hard together. I think they’re working well together. They look like they can cause damage.

“[Bogle is] getting fitter. He’s another one, you’ve got to remember. We’re way ahead of where we should be really with this group. Today, we started with a brand-new back-four from what we started with on Saturday. It’s crazy what we’re doing.

“A lot of them came in not so long ago and hadn’t even done ant pre-season. We had to throw them in the deep end but now it’s starting to pay off a bit. They’re getting fitter. Omar, his strength, physicality, bringing it down, rolling people, running away from people and getting fouls. One on one, getting half a yard and getting shots off.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS