Lee Bowyer left frustrated as Charlton are punished once more for defensive frailties
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton paid the price once more for defensive errors during the defeat at Peterborough United – leaving Lee Bowyer a frustrated man.
The South Londoners had taken an early lead from the penalty spot through Conor Washington on his return to London Road and they largely controlled the first-period.
But a mix up between centre-halves Deji Oshilaja and Jason Pearce gifted Sammie Szmodics a free run at goal to level up midway through the second-half, before a slip from substitute Andrew Shinnie led to the same Posh player scoring the winner 11 minutes from time.
Bowyer’s side have now kept just one clean sheet in ten League One outings.
The defeat meant a missed opportunity for the Addicks to climb above their hosts in the table, although they remain in League One’s top six for now.
Bowyer, speaking afterwards, said: “I thought it was a horrible game to watch. The conditions were horrendous. The pitch was not playable. It was very scrappy. It became a bit of a battle. A battle that I thought we were on top. We competed well. And again, mistakes. We were in full control. 1-0 up. Everything they threw at us, we did well first 45 minutes. Back four, solid. Any attempts they had were from distance and didn’t trouble Ben [Amos] at all. We were in full control until, again, a single punt down the pitch and the fella runs through and has a one on one. It wasn’t good enough. I don’t know what more I can say about it.
“What I will say is that the players gave me everything. I just walked around after the game, shook everyone’s hand and said: ‘Look, as a manager, what is important to me is that they just gave me 100 percent.’ Worked their socks off. They compete. Obviously, I want us to play well. Today was not that day, not on that pitch.
“Saturday just gone, at Bristol Rovers, was the same. They worked hard, they gave everything, moved the ball well and created a lot of chances. Today, they gave everything but basic mistakes. Easily avoided. Me, as a manger, you can’t legislate for that. We’ve been watching videos, saying: ‘Stay high, be on the front foot, win your headers, compete.’
“A long punt straight through the middle of the pitch. A mix-up with the two centre-halves and they have a fella running through. Jacko has shown them clips. Jack works with the back-four, he works hard with the back-four. Showing them clips after clips. Jacko just said after the game: ‘You have to walk the walk. Not just talk the talk.’
“When you show clips, like we’re been doing and work on the training pitch and you show them, they have to then make it happen on a matchday. They’re things that we can’t control, unfortunately. We can’t control that. We can put them in the right place. It comes down to individual decisions.
“Taking away the couple of mistakes that they scored them, I thought we were very good. Full control of the game. So, very disappointing. We ain’t miles off it. It’s just stupid mistakes that are costing us.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS