Charlton boss Lee Bowyer reveals thinking behind Omar Bogle’s withdrawal during first-half of loss at Burton Albion

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer revealed why he hauled striker Omar Bogle off after only 34 minutes of Tuesday evening’s shock 4-2 defeat to struggling Burton Albion.

The Addicks manager decided to replace the ineffective Bogle with Chuks Aneke before half-time as he looked for a way back into a game in which his side hadn’t threatened the Brewers backline anywhere near enough.

Aneke would score a spectacular bicycle kick midway through the second-period but it wasn’t enough as the South Londoners slumped to their first defeat in nine League One games – against the side that started the evening rooted to the bottom of the table.

“It wasn’t really tactical because I brought off like for like,” explained Bowyer when quizzed about his decision to shuffle his pack during the first period.

“There was nothing wrong with Omar apart from he wasn’t doing what I expect him to do as a striker. You see the difference in Chuks Aneke from Omar Bogle. That’s what I expect from all my strikers. Omar was doing that and has been doing that, but for some reason today he was miles off it and I won’t have it. That’s why I did it.

“My worry with Chuks is that you just have to be careful with him,” added the Addicks boss when asked if the former Arsenal man, who has scored all five of his goals this season after coming on as a substitute, is nearing the level of fitness needed to start games.

“His body is very temperamental. We’ve learned that over the last 18 months. We’ve learned that about Chuks. Trust me, I would have started him long before now if I could. There comes a point where I had to bring him on today to play him for 60 minutes. I had to. I couldn’t keep watching what was happening, it wasn’t good. I’ve just got to look after Chuks. Again, he’s come off the bench and scored.”

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